Explainer: How Richard Branson will ride own rocket to space
3 years, 5 months ago

Explainer: How Richard Branson will ride own rocket to space

India Today  

Virgin Galactic will become the first rocket company to launch the boss when Richard Branson straps into one of his sleek, shiny space planes this weekend. The self-described tie-loathing adventurer and troublemaker will join five company employees for Sunday’s test flight from New Mexico’s southern desert — the company’s fourth trip to the edge of space. Branson assigned himself to Virgin Galactic’s first full-scale crew, jumping ahead of Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos, an even richer rocketeer looking to launch himself into space. “I’m in my 70s now so you either let yourself go or you get fit and enjoy life.” Read | Race against time: Richard Branson announces trip to space, ahead of Jeff Bezos His wife, children and grandchildren will be there as he climbs aboard the rocket plane that’s attached to a dual-fuselage aircraft for takeoff. ROCKET PLANE Virgin Galactic’s spaceplane, Unity, will take off attached to a specially designed double aircraft nicknamed Eve after Branson’s late mother.

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History of this topic

Dream of going to space? Virgin Galactic just launched commercial flights
1 year, 5 months ago

Dream of going to space? Virgin Galactic just launched commercial flights

LA Times  

Three Italian researchers and a Virgin Galactic employee flew to the edge of space on the company’s first commercial flight. On Thursday, that hype finally became reality when three Italian researchers boarded the VSS Unity space plane as Virgin Galactic’s first paying passengers and flew about four minutes in suborbital space. Business Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson plans to visit space …

Billionaire who flew SpaceX last year going back into orbit
2 years, 10 months ago

Billionaire who flew SpaceX last year going back into orbit

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The billionaire who launched on his own SpaceX flight last year is headed back up, aiming for an even higher orbit and the chance to take part in a spacewalk. Tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman announced Monday that he will make another private spaceflight launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, alongside two SpaceX engineers and a former …

Richard Branson's flight to space went off-course, deviated from path; under investigation
3 years, 3 months ago

Richard Branson's flight to space went off-course, deviated from path; under investigation

India Today  

The flight carrying Richard Branson to the edge of space could have ended up landing on the desert plain after warning lights flashed on the pilot's console indicating that the flight path was too shallow and the nose of the ship was insufficiently vertical. The US Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a deviation of the flight of the Virgin Galactic …

(Opinion) The billionaires’ space race is only just beginning
3 years, 5 months ago

(Opinion) The billionaires’ space race is only just beginning

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Don Lincoln is a senior scientist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. On July 1, a spacecraft called VSS Unity carried Sir Richard Branson, billionaire and founder of Virgin Galactic, the company that made the space capsule, into space.. And, of course, the past 60 years has had many successful manned missions into space, performed by countries including …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson flies to space: How Twitter reacted to Unity 22 launch
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson flies to space: How Twitter reacted to Unity 22 launch

Firstpost  

At an altitude of about 13 kilometres, Unity detached from the mothership and breached Mach 3 as it shot into space. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/wqXpLNed7X — Dana Smith 🐶🇺🇦🌵 July 11, 2021 I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/grs7vHAzca — Richard Branson July …

Richard Branson in space, but The Simpsons predicted it long ago. Best reactions
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson in space, but The Simpsons predicted it long ago. Best reactions

India Today  

Billionaire Richard Branson, 71, along with his five crewmates, from the Virgin Galactic space tourism company, hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship in his boldest adventure ever, beating fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos. DID SIMPSONS PREDICT RICHARD BRANSON’S BLAST OFF INTO SPACE? Now, netizens are debating if The Simpsons show predicted Richard Branson being the first to blast …

Billionaire Richard Branson reaches space in his own ship
3 years, 5 months ago

Billionaire Richard Branson reaches space in his own ship

Associated Press  

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. — Swashbuckling billionaire Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship Sunday, bringing astro-tourism a step closer to reality and beating out his exceedingly richer rival Jeff Bezos. Branson’s other chief rival in the space-tourism race among the world’s richest men, SpaceX’s Elon Musk, came to New Mexico to watch and congratulated Branson …

Richard Branson takes off first in space tourism race
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson takes off first in space tourism race

The Hindu  

Swashbuckling entrepreneur Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship on Sunday in his boldest adventure yet, beating out fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos. The nearly 71-year-old Mr. Branson and five crewmates, including aeronautical engineer Sirisha Bandla, from his Virgin Galactic space tourism company reached an altitude of about 88 kilometres over the New Mexico desert — enough …

A Long Wait: How Richard Branson Finally Realised His ‘Space Dream’
3 years, 5 months ago

A Long Wait: How Richard Branson Finally Realised His ‘Space Dream’

News 18  

Richard Branson finally got his trip to space Sunday. Cars drove Branson and his crewmates to the plane Sunday, and the flight took off Sunday morning around 10:40 a.m. Eastern time from Spaceport America in New Mexico, about 180 miles south of Albuquerque. The space plane separated from the carrier ship around 11:25 a.m. and ignited its engine for about …

Richard Branson flies to the edge of the space in his rocket
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson flies to the edge of the space in his rocket

Op India  

British billionaire Richard Branson rode a rocket of his company Virgin Galactic to fly to the edge of space today. Richard Branson lifted off to space today on #Unity22 Virgin Galactic, marking a historic spaceflight https://t.co/JnnHUZpagi pic.twitter.com/4tCjy2UQyj — CBS News July 11, 2021 The billionaire is joined by five company employees who are took off to space in a company …

Billionaire Richard Branson reaches Space in his own ship; India-born Sirisha Bandla part of crew
3 years, 5 months ago

Billionaire Richard Branson reaches Space in his own ship; India-born Sirisha Bandla part of crew

India TV News  

Swashbuckling entrepreneur Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship Sunday, beating out fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos. It’s a great moment.” Virgin Galactic conducted three previous test flights into space with crews of just two or three. Branson’s other chief rival in the space-tourism race among the world’s richest men, SpaceX’s Elon Musk, came to New Mexico …

Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic crew go to the edge of space and back
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic crew go to the edge of space and back

LA Times  

In 2004, British billionaire Richard Branson proclaimed he would fly into space on his company’s spaceship in just three years to kick off what he hoped would become a routine travel experience, drinks and all. Branson, along with five other Virgin Galactic employees — two pilots and three others who were testing parts of the in-cabin experience, including research opportunities …

Richard Branson flies to space: When and where to watch Sirisa Bandla's Virgin Galactic Unity 22 space flight
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson flies to space: When and where to watch Sirisa Bandla's Virgin Galactic Unity 22 space flight

India Today  

The billionaire space race is about to be flagged off with Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson ready to soar into the blue on board the first fully crewed flight of his SpaceShipTwo aircraft, Unity 22, on Sunday. READ: Richard Branson to fly into space | Bet you didn't know his Indian roots WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH THE UNITY 22 …

Editorial: Space, the final frontier, is now open (to the super-rich)
3 years, 5 months ago

Editorial: Space, the final frontier, is now open (to the super-rich)

LA Times  

There’s a new space race underway. Over the coming weeks and months, two, three, possibly four new space tourism ventures will launch from U.S. soil, taking paying passengers into the Earth’s atmosphere. On Sunday, British tycoon Richard Branson will be one of the first four passengers soaring into space on his Virgin Galactic’s rocket plane. When the carrier hits an …

Billionaire Blastoff: Rich riding own rockets into space
3 years, 5 months ago

Billionaire Blastoff: Rich riding own rockets into space

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two billionaires are putting everything on the line this month to ride their own rockets into space. The lucrative, high-stakes chase for space tourists will unfold on the fringes of space — 55 miles to 66 miles up, pitting Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson against the world’s richest man, Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos. But some at Blue …

Overwhelmed with joy, says family of Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla flying to space with Branson
3 years, 5 months ago

Overwhelmed with joy, says family of Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla flying to space with Branson

India Today  

Days after Virgin announced that India-born Sirisha Bandla would be joining Richard Branson on his maiden space flight, her grandfather said that he was "overwhelmed with joy". Sirisha, 33, who was born in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, will fly onboard Virgin Galactic's July 11 test flight that will take her beyond the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. A …

Richard Branson plans space trip ahead of rival billionaire Jeff Bezos
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson plans space trip ahead of rival billionaire Jeff Bezos

ABC  

It's a race between billionaires: British mogul Richard Branson has one-upped rival Jeff Bezos, announcing he will blast beyond the Earth's atmosphere as many as nine days ahead of the Amazon founder. Key points: Billionaire Richard Branson will go into space as early as July 11 Branson plans to travel before Amazon found Jeff Bezos Branson says he will evaluate …

Richard Branson will be launching into space along with Virgin Galactic crew on 11 July test flight
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson will be launching into space along with Virgin Galactic crew on 11 July test flight

Firstpost  

He founded Virgin Galactic in 2004 to provide short space tourist flights to the edge of space and has said he will be a passenger on the first commercial flight. Seeking to upstage Jeff Bezos as the first rocket company owner to go to space, Richard Branson, the British billionaire who founded a galaxy of Virgin companies, announced Thursday night …

Sir Richard Branson to reach space before Jeff Bezos on July 11
3 years, 5 months ago

Sir Richard Branson to reach space before Jeff Bezos on July 11

The Hindu  

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, is set to reach space eleven days earlier than Jeff Bezos. Branson’s space company announced its first fully-crewed space flight is schedule to fly on July 11. "I'm honoured to help validate the journey our future astronauts will undertake and ensure we deliver the unique customer experience people expect from Virgin,” Branson said. …

Richard Branson aims to make space trip on July 11, ahead of Jeff Bezos
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson aims to make space trip on July 11, ahead of Jeff Bezos

Business Standard  

Branson's July 11 mission will be the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity, and the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, Virgin said. By Eric M. Johnson SEATTLE - Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson will travel to the edge of space on Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's test flight on July 11, Branson's space tourism firm said on Thursday, beating out fellow aspiring billionaire …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson plans to visit space before Jeff Bezos
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson plans to visit space before Jeff Bezos

LA Times  

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, shown in 2019, said this week that he’s “ready, fit and healthy to go” to space. Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson is aiming to beat fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos into space by nine days. Branson is to be joined on his flight by Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic’s head astronaut instructor; Colin Bennett, the company’s lead operations …

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic given US government approval to take passengers into space
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic given US government approval to take passengers into space

ABC  

Virgin Galactic finally has the US government’s approval to start launching customers into space from New Mexico. Key points: Virgin Galactic plans to launch its first fully crewed flight this US summer A review of the company's third flight to space in May was successful and paved the way for approval More than 600 people have already reserved a ride …

From Richard Branson to Jeff Bezos, space tourism takes flight
3 years, 6 months ago

From Richard Branson to Jeff Bezos, space tourism takes flight

Live Mint  

About 20 years ago, Dennis Tito, an investment manager and a businessman from Los Angeles, US, paid $20 million to hitch a ride to space. In his new book, Test Gods: Virgin Galactic And The Making Of A Modern Astronaut, The New Yorker journalist Nicholas Schmidle profiles the remarkable story of the engineers, test pilots and visionaries behind one such …

Richard Branson 'could beat Jeff Bezos to space by flying two weeks before Amazon founder'
3 years, 6 months ago

Richard Branson 'could beat Jeff Bezos to space by flying two weeks before Amazon founder'

Daily Mail  

It looked like Jeff Bezos was on the verge of winning the billionaire space race by revealing plans to fly to space ahead of rivals Elon Musk and Sir Richard Branson. If true, it would see Branson, 70, fly to space on his VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo rocket plane over the July 4 weekend, while 57-year-old Bezos would have to wait …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson still plans to be the first ‘space billionaire’ to actually travel to space
4 years, 1 month ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson still plans to be the first ‘space billionaire’ to actually travel to space

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Richard Branson, the thrill-seeking British billionaire, founded Virgin Galactic in 2004 on the promise that a privately developed spacecraft would make it possible for hundreds of people to become astronauts, no NASA training required. This time it came from Michael Colglazier, the recently installed CEO of Virgin Galactic whose goal is to guide the company …

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