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Virgin in Space
If you didn't already know, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic plans to provide sub-orbital spaceflights to the public as early as next year.
On July 28, Branson and American aerospace designer Burt Rutan unveiled the White Knight Two, an exotic jet that will carry a passenger spaceship to launch altitude.
The four-engine jet, with its 140-foot single wing, is an engineering marvel. The space between its twin fuselages is where SpaceShipTwo, the passenger rocket, will be mounted.
They're taking reservations now ... who's with me? If you didn't already know, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic plans to provide sub-orbital spaceflights to the public as... more -
Mother Ship Unveiled for $200,000 Place in Space
"British entrepreneur and adventurer Richard Branson on Monday took the wraps off an aircraft that, for $200,000 a seat, may someday take tourists who can afford it on the first leg of regular, albeit very brief, commercial flights into space.
Amid extravagantly orchestrated publicity at a historic test airfield near Edwards Air Force Base, Branson unveiled the double-hulled "mother ship" built to carry a capsule filled with six wealthy tourists high into the stratosphere, from where the smaller ship would rocket into the blackness more than 60 miles above Earth.
The dual-fuselage, all-composite plane expands and refines the smaller version that famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan twice used four years ago to begin the journey of a piloted capsule to sub-orbital altitude, winning the X-Prize competition aimed at encouraging private spaceflight.
No one knows when Virgin Galactic will fly, but about 100 people have already paid full price for the trip, which comes to $50,000 per minute for the four minutes the travelers will spend in weightlessness. An additional 170 have put down deposits.
'It's no good saying it's just extravagant. It could lead to all kinds of things,' said Evette Branson after christening the oddly shaped four-engine jet, dubbed Eve in her honor."
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by Karl Vick// Washington Post "British entrepreneur and adventurer Richard Branson on Monday took the wraps off an aircraft that, for $200,000 a seat, may some... more -
Branson unveils new space toy/people carrier
Virgin Galactic has unveiled the WhiteKnightTwo, labelling it as "a new class of carrier airplane that will help loft space tourists beyond Earth's atmosphere."
Notice the use of a 'new class,' I didn't know we had a 'current class' of everyday space-travelling machines, but there you go.
From the article:
"WhiteKnightTwo will ferry the not-yet-unveiled SpaceShipTwo crafts, six-passenger versions of the original SpaceShipOne, up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) above Earth.
The passenger ship is then launched from the underside of WhiteKnightTwo to continue its ascent to the very edge of space—about 65 miles (104 kilometers) above Earth—under its own power. SpaceShipTwo crafts make the return trip to Earth unaided. "
Space travel for a ridiculous price anyone? Virgin Galactic has unveiled the WhiteKnightTwo, labelling it as "a new class of carrier airplane that will help loft space tour... more -
a chairman that would WILLINGLY pay for the pollution his company is responsible f...
yup
"Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson told a forum on climate change Tuesday that aviation is a dirty business and that airlines should be willing to pay for the damage they cause to the environment." yup ... more -
The first space marriage
Virgin Galactic boss Sir Richard Branson is planning to set yet another record – by becoming the first man to marry a couple in space.
The 58-year-old billionaire intends to conduct a ceremony 70 miles above the Earth on the first Galactic sub-orbital flight next year... Virgin Galactic boss Sir Richard Branson is planning to set yet another record – by becoming the first man to marry a couple in space.... more -
Airline in first biofuel flight
The first flight by a commercial airline to be powered partly by biofuel has taken place.
I know it is not the perfect solution but why do people bust balls about research.
Rome was not built in a day.... but it burned in one! The first flight by a commercial airline to be powered partly by biofuel has taken place. ... more -
Virgin Galactic shows space plane model
Within a few years, a handful of rich tourists may be blasting into space in a craft that looks a little like a cross between the space shuttle and a corporate jet. Within a few years, a handful of rich tourists may be blasting into space in a craft that looks a little like a cross between the spac... more
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Virgin Galactic unveils space-plane-thing
British billionaire Richard Branson and the aerospace designer Burt Rutan unveiled a model of SpaceShipTwo, the vehicle they hope will be able to take passengers about 62 miles above Earth for the fun of it, with test flights possibly beginning this year. British billionaire Richard Branson and the aerospace designer Burt Rutan unveiled a model of SpaceShipTwo, the vehicle they hope wil... more
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Virgin Airlines to Test Biofuel Powered Jet Flight
Virgin Atlantic has announced that it is planning a test flight of a 747 powered by a mix of 20% biofuel and 80% conventional jet fuel. The flight, which will carry no passengers and is scheduled to happen sometime in late February, will be the first biofuel powered commercial jet flight, but what makes this flight even more unique is airline founder Richard Branson's approach to biofuels.
While traditional biofuels, made from soybean or palm oil, take valuable land area away from food production, Branson has publicly rejected biofuels derived from such crops. What this means is that the source of Virgin's biofuel will most likely be certain types of algae, which can be cultivated with only water, sunlight and carbon dioxide, making the biofuel derived from this unusual crop even more of a sustainable option....
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantra Virgin Atlantic has announced that it is planning a test flight of a 747 powered by a mix of 20% biofuel and 80% conventional jet fuel... more -
Virgin Galactic Reveals Prototype
Sir Richard gave a peek at the design of Virgin Galactic's soon to launch suborbital ship. Flights are slated to begin in 2009 with trips from New Mexico and Sweden. And no, that's not it in the picture you're looking at. Sir Richard gave a peek at the design of Virgin Galactic's soon to launch suborbital ship. Flights are slated to begin in 2009 w... more
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SpaceShipTwo
Richard Branson's spaceship startup Virgin Galactic unveiled the second design of its suborbital vehicles, SpaceShipTwo and White Knight Two. SpaceShipTwo is the vehicle that passengers will actually ride in, and White Knight Two is the launch vehicle that carries it to a high altitude before ignition. Richard Branson's spaceship startup Virgin Galactic unveiled the second design of its suborbital vehicles, SpaceShipTwo and White... more
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Branson Tells Virgin Atlantic Strikers To Resign
Sir Richard Branson has provoked outrage by telling Virgin Atlantic staff who are threatening to go on strike that they should 'consider working elsewhere'. Sir Richard Branson has provoked outrage by telling Virgin Atlantic staff who are threatening to go on strike that they should 'c... more
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RCRD LBL on Virgin America in Flight Radio
check it out
now you can listen to "good" music while flying high in the sky....
rcrd lbl radio launches on virgin america flights... check it out now you can listen to "good" music while flying high in the sky.... ... more -
Google billionaire to marry on Branson's island
NEW YORK - Larry Page, Google billionaire co-founder, is set to marry his girlfriend, Lucy Southworth, on a tiny Caribbean island this weekend, a source familiar with the wedding arrangements said.
The couple will hold the ceremony on an island enclave owned by Richard Branson, the billionaire owner of Virgin Group VA.UL, who will act as best man to Larry, the source said. NEW YORK - Larry Page, Google billionaire co-founder, is set to marry his girlfriend, Lucy Southworth, on a tiny Caribbean island this... more -
Virgin Galactic's new spaceport design and outer space hotel
Here is a story that I wrote on the new Virgin Spaceport building plans by Norman Foster's architecture firm --the world's first commercial spaceport! Here is a story that I wrote on the new Virgin Spaceport building plans by Norman Foster's architecture firm --the world's f... more
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Richard Branson Turns to Google Earth to Find Steve Fossett
If Google can do this, I'm going to just forever swear my allegiance to them and get on with it.
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Virgin America coming to SFO today!
I heart Richard Branson!
P.S. This is by far one of the coolest planes. Purple track lighting, black and white leather seats, and Instant Messaging. Awesome. I heart Richard Branson! ... more -
Accidents Won't Stop Private Space Industry's Push to Final Frontier
The workers killed in Thursday's blast while working on a commercial spaceship under construction by Scaled Composites for Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic will surely have an as-of-yet undetermined effect on the private space industry as a whole. However, the accident is not being seen as a setback for the industry by any means. The workers killed in Thursday's blast while working on a commercial spaceship under construction by Scaled Composites for Richar... more
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Branson took drugs with son
Herald Sun: British tycoon Sir Richard Branson has admitted joining the mile-high club and taking drugs with his son while on a surfing holiday in Australia. Herald Sun: British tycoon Sir Richard Branson has admitted joining the mile-high club and taking drugs with his son while on a surfin... more
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Richard Branson
