Virgin and Amazon are the only companies in history to have leaders to fly into outer space. The risk of death is real for both men. 1.4% of astronauts die during their flight, based on all data from the 1960s to present.
- Challenger space shuttle explosion during flight, killing all 7 aboard
- Columbia space shuttle explosion on re-entry, killing all 7 aboard
- Apollo I caught fire on its launch pad, killing all 3 aboard.
- Soyuz 11 experienced explosive decompression in space, killing all 3 aboard.
I know there is a lot of billionaire hate at the moment, but like I said in the title, I hope they have a successful flight and return home safely, they have worked hard and deserve it.
https://preview.redd.it/00qgxcxwb8e71.jpg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1ac30dc6bdac60f66e54f85a3def40a5337da2e
I’m not trying to put them down but people are making a bigger deal than it is. I’m glad we are continuing to advance technology but let me know when they are personally driving buggies on the Moon, Mars or Titan or Europa and then l will be impressed.
The Russians did the same thing but better like 60 years ago. The Americans went to the moon, played golf and drove a damn buggy around it … like 6 times … 50 years ago. We sent the voyager probes to the outer planets and they are still flying 40 years later.
At least SpaceX is launching satellites and doing stuff for NASA.
James Cameron filming at the bottom of the Marianas trench for 6 hours is more impressive in my opinion.
I know this has been talked about to death already but I think it’s worth revisiting again. I certainly don’t recommend buying weekly or monthly call options based on this (even though it’s tempting). But I believe that based on all the available information out there, that Richard Branson flying to the edge of space before Jeff Bezo’s is more then likely.
Why?
The original source; Parabolic Arc Doug Messier is a long time career in the media business and space enthusiast in the space industry that would be in a position to know and has a reputation to protect.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2021/06/07/virgin-galactics-richard-branson-aims-to-fly-to-space-before-jeff-bezos/
Richard Branson WANTS to beat Bezos and has a desire and history of doing stunts.
https://pressat.co.uk/blog/2014/08/reliving-16-pr-stunts-from-richard-branson/
Virgin Galactic has never denied that Richard Branson May fly up first. Even though SEC rule 435 states that any rumours should be denied if untrue.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=sec+rule+435+compnay+should+deny+rumour&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-ca&client=safari
Chamath Palhypityia, the chairman of Virgin Galactic also did not deny the rumour on his podcast and based on his facial expressions looks like he was holding in a positive secret. 31:40 seconds in.
https://youtu.be/eSB93bkB4NQ
Former FAA junior Administrator George Nield confirms that Branson flying before FAA approval is totally doable as he can fly up as a employee of the company.
https://nypost.com/2021/06/10/virgin-galactic-founder-richard-branson-to-try-to-beat-jeff-bezos-to-space-report/
Anyways at a minimum it makes a nice discussion for a Sunday with us all waiting on a update from Virgin Galactic, but the more I read into this the more I believe it will happen. I think we have all been disappointed from VirginGalactic once or more and are afraid of it happening again, which is fair.
Even one of the nicest communities, the space community, is now getting barraged with over politicizing babies complaining at literally every chance they get.
And it’s always the same (usually unsubstantiated) arguments as well:
- "They were born rich"
- "If I had that kind of money I would’ve easily achieved what they did", like hell you would.
- "They don’t pay taxes"
- "They don’t give their money away to charity and poor people"
- "They are assholes"
- "They were lucky"
And guess what? Speaking any sense or playing devil's advocate for a bit about what they’re doing isn’t helpful either, because then you get the good ol’ “look at this dood protecting billionaires, how sad”-treatment. I don't think I even need to start with currently the number one TrueOffMyChest-post of this month, which is literally a cliché-machine, ending with the usual "educate yourself" statement.
I know we all know about Bezos, and maybe I am late to hearing about Branson's scheduled flight being ON the actual 18th July? 10.30am local US time (5.30pm BST). His flight will last an hour (perhaps a clue as to the time any alien craft will arrive?) This is way too much to be coincidental - or maybe the two billionaires are both part of r/throwawaylien too?
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/10/virgin-galactic-richard-branson-orbit
I keep reading posts about how they should be spending their billions helping people. Those posts are NOT wrong. But there is so much noise surrounding their activities that it ignores the potential good that can come of it. Space NEEDS to be commercialized. We need people to start making a profit in space even with all the shit happening here on earth.
Branson's rocket is no longer a Virgin...
