I have been tracking Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic project for a few years, but I never grow tired of it. Progress is at light-speed and it’s constantly breaking new innovations and new horizons.

Branso’s nerve has been put to the test on countless occasions, the worst of which came when three project employees were killed in an explosion last year. But today he revealed a new aircraft, increasing the likelihood of a commercial flight into sub-orbital space next year.

There are two planes involved in the flight, one piggy-backing the other until the correct height is reached, where upon it is released (complete with paying customers) into the something-osphere.

Customers enjoy about five minutes of weightlessness before returning to Earth.

This is surely the most entrepreneurial endeavour so far this century.

The investment is massive, the risks incalculable and the potential rewards, well they speak for themselves. He might even make a profit.

Stephen Hawking is on the first flight, guaranteeing Virgin Galactic a suitably other-worldly maiden voyage.

I wonder if, in years to come, we’ll talk about Sir Richard and his team in the same terms as the Wright brothers or Brunel or Henry Ford?

Your thoughts are welcome…

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By Dan Matthews  on   Jul 28,2008

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Keywords

Virgin    space    Richard Branson    Brunel    flight    Ford   

Comments

BrianB
Egomaniac or what? Like his style though. Report Abuse