Richard Branson’s $450K spaceflights under fire after Titan tragedy
Virgin Galactic’s highly anticipated first commercial spaceflight, scheduled for Thursday, is drawing comparisons to the recent tragic incident involving the Titan submersible. The company, belonging to billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, announced that it will send three Italians and a Virgin Galactic flight instructor on the Galactic 01 mission, while also selling tickets for future space tours at a steep price of $450,000. However, concerns were raised on social media after the Instagram account Pubity, which boasts 33 million followers, shared the Virgin Galactic announcement along with a promotional video. Users expressed worry following the deadly implosion of OceanGate’s submersible during an expensive journey to explore the Titanic shipwreck. Despite the comparisons, Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson defended the safety of space travel, stating that it is easier to go to space than to the bottom of the ocean.
Richard Branson is a seasoned veteran of the space industry, with over two decades of experience and several spaceflights under his belt. Previously, such missions were only reserved for astronauts and those with aeronautical backgrounds. However, delays are common in spaceflight due to factors like weather conditions, technical issues, and unforeseen circumstances. In July 2007, three employees were killed and three critically injured during a test at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Branson had initially planned to launch tourists into space in 2013 but faced setbacks, finally gaining federal government approval in 2021 after safety upgrades to the fleet were made.
On Thursday, the crew for the historic Galactic 01 mission will consist of Col. Walter Villadei and Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi from the Italian Air Force, Pantaleone Carlucci from the National Research Council of Italy, and Virgin Galactic astronaut Colin Bennett. They will board the VSS Unity in New Mexico for a 90-minute flight to conduct microgravity research and undertake 13 “human-tended and autonomous experiments.” Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier stated that these research missions will open up new opportunities for government and research institutions to access space reliably and repeatedly. The company’s vision is to establish a commercial spaceline for both scientific research and private astronaut space missions.
Following the Galactic 01 mission, Virgin Galactic plans to commence flights to the edge of space for ticketholders starting with Galactic 02 in August. Monthly flights are expected to follow, and approximately 800 tickets have already been sold over the past decade. The initial ticket price was $200,000, but it has now risen to $450,000 per person. If the mission proves successful, Virgin Galactic could become a formidable competitor to other companies offering commercial passenger flights into space, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.
The announcement of Virgin Galactic’s launch details comes shortly after the US Coast Guard reported finding debris from the Titan submersible near the Titanic wreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean. The submersible was on a tourist expedition to explore the remains of the Titanic with five people on board when communication was lost during its dive. Tragically, all five individuals onboard lost their lives. This incident has invited scrutiny and raised concerns about the safety of high-tech submersibles, adding to the existing apprehensions surrounding space travel.
FAQs:
Q: How much are tickets for Virgin Galactic’s space tours?
A: Tickets for Virgin Galactic’s space tours are priced at $450,000 per person.
Q: Who will be onboard the Galactic 01 mission?
A: The crew for the Galactic 01 mission will include three Italians (Col. Walter Villadei, Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi, and Pantaleone Carlucci) and a Virgin Galactic flight instructor (Colin Bennett).
Q: How long will the Galactic 01 mission last?
A: The Galactic 01 mission is expected to be a 90-minute flight.
Q: How many tickets have been sold for Virgin Galactic’s space tours?
A: Approximately 800 tickets have been sold for Virgin Galactic’s space tours over the past decade.
Q: How does Virgin Galactic’s launch compare to other companies offering commercial passenger flights into space?
A: If successful, Virgin Galactic’s launch could position the company as a competitor to other companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Q: What happened to the Titan submersible?
A: The Titan submersible, which was on an expedition to explore the Titanic wreckage, tragically imploded, resulting in the loss of all five individuals onboard.
Criticism Arises Towards Richard Branson’s $450K Spaceflights Following Titan Tragedy
Virgin Galactic’s highly anticipated first commercial spaceflight, set to launch on Thursday, has sparked comparisons to the recent tragedy involving the Titan submersible. The flight, known as Galactic 01, will include three Italian passengers and a Virgin Galactic flight instructor, who purchased tickets for future space tours at a cost of $450,000. However, concerns were raised on social media after popular account Pubity shared the announcement alongside a promotional video, with some users drawing parallels to the deadly implosion of OceanGate’s submersible during a journey to explore the Titanic shipwreck.
Critics expressed worries about the limited oxygen levels in space, with one person commenting, “No thanks, don’t wanna be searched for in space with an oxygen level that lasts for 2h.” Another user questioned whether Virgin Galactic had learned from the submersible incident. Despite these concerns, there were also individuals who argued that space travel is actually easier than exploring the depths of the ocean.
Virgin Galactic’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, a billionaire and part of the Virgin Group, has been involved in the space industry for over two decades and has already completed several spaceflights. However, these flights were previously reserved for astronauts and individuals with aeronautical experience. Past space missions have often faced delays due to weather conditions, technical issues, and other unforeseen factors.
In 2007, three employees were tragically killed and three critically injured during a test at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Branson initially planned to launch space tourism in 2013 but later pushed the timeline to 2015. Eventually, federal government approval was granted in 2021, and the final test flight took place in May after safety upgrades were made to the fleet.
For the Galactic 01 mission, the Italian Air Force’s Col. Walter Villadei and Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi, along with engineer Pantaleone Carlucci from the National Research Council of Italy, will join Virgin Galactic’s astronaut Colin Bennett on a historic 90-minute flight aboard the VSS Unity in New Mexico. The mission aims to conduct microgravity research and will include 13 “human-tended and autonomous experiments.”
Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier highlighted the significance of the research missions and their potential impact on space accessibility for research institutions and the government. Additionally, he expressed excitement about the company’s future plans, including private astronaut missions and regular flights to the edge of space starting in August.
With 800 tickets already sold over the past decade, Virgin Galactic could become a significant contender in the commercial spaceflight industry if the Galactic 01 mission proves successful. Competitors such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, offer similar services. The launch details from Virgin Galactic come shortly after the US Coast Guard confirmed the discovery of debris from the Titan submersible at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean near the Titanic wreckage. The Titan submersible was conducting a tourist expedition to explore the iconic shipwreck when communications were lost, leading to a tragic implosion that claimed the lives of Stockton Rush, Hamish Harding, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
In conclusion, Virgin Galactic’s first commercial spaceflight has generated both excitement and concerns following the recent tragedy involving the Titan submersible. As the launch approaches, all eyes will be on Virgin Galactic to see if they can successfully navigate the challenges of the industry and deliver on their promise of accessible space travel.