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Sir Richard takes Virgin into Space

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the blasting-off dept.

quizdog writes "The latest issue of Wired has a story on Sir Richard Branson and the history of the Virgin Empire, focusing on his latest venture of partnering with Scaled Composites and Burt Rutan to bring the X-Prize-winning SpaceShipOne hybrid rocket technology to the point where paying passengers can slip those 'surly bonds' of the atmosphere. Starting at just $200,000 a pop - any chance of a volume discount?" We first mentioned this a while back, but Wired's coverage is nice to see as well.

23 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Booyah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this make him a member of the 600-mile high club?

  2. If only... by dutt · · Score: 4, Funny

    If only Branson would take a virgin into space... what bliss.

  3. Virgin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    anyone else besides me take a double-take at that article title?

    1. Re:Virgin? by spac3manspiff · · Score: 3, Funny

      considering most of us are virgins...

      yes :/

    2. Re:Virgin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      What is a virgin?. Please explain it in Perl.

  4. Don't think so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    ...any chance of a volume discount?

    No, fatass -- in fact, you're gonna have to pay extra.

  5. Virgins in Space? by earthforce_1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds like a promising XXX title. :)

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    1. Re:Virgins in Space? by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 2, Funny

      More likely they're just ensuring only true geeks are allowed on the ship.

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  6. Slashdotters by thegoofy · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, Slashdotters... he didn't take one of YOU into space... they are referring to a company in the article.

  7. Article title by coug_ · · Score: 2, Funny

    [i]Sir Richard takes Virgin into Space[/i]

    Where did he find manage to find a real Virgin?

    Thanks... I'll be here all week.

    1. Re:Article title by eclectro · · Score: 2, Funny

      Where did he find manage to find a real Virgin?

      The Virgin had a choice of being tossed in the volcano or going on the rocketship.
      Standing at the edge of the volcano, she chose the latter.

      I'm sorry that you are going to have to browse at -1 to see this post.

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  8. For a Second there by fenodyree · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought: Gee, I wish I was that lucky geek!

  9. Allow me to be the first... by braeburn · · Score: 2, Funny

    to comment on one of the most unintentionally funny/"don't editors look at these things before posting" moments on ./ I've seen in a while. Bravo.

  10. Sir Richard takes Virgin into Space by UnCivil+Liberty · · Score: 4, Funny

    And on that note let the bad sex jokes begin...

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  11. Re:About time by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    Coach only costs $50k, but you have to sit on the outside of the spacecraft.

  12. Virgin into space, eh? by RLiegh · · Score: 2, Funny

    How's he going to manage to get the whole corporation up there?

  13. Sir Richard Takes Virgin in to Space by popo · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...And back to his homeworld ...where he will use her to breed an army of half-men / half-Bransons to enslave Earth. Mwah hah hah haaaah... ...er, sorry...

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  14. Wired has a stor by stor · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...but Slashdot has the original

    Cheers
    Stor

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  15. WTF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sounds like a bad Japanese Hentai Title: "Sir Richard takes a virgin 3"

  16. Wow, someone's having a field day with this... by mOoZik · · Score: 2, Funny

    VIRGINS in space, from the BLASTING OFF department? Hah!

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  17. time to cash in my air miles by ddurdle · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do they take air miles?

  18. Re:Boooooring by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't want to be a big, wet blanket here, and I don't want to say nothing has been accomplished; it was a necessary first step. But it ain't space travel. Orbital insertions are two orders of magnitude harder.

    Exactly. Let me summarize, people.

    Step 1. Take a Virgin into space.
    Step 2. Orbital insertion.
    Step 3. PROFIT!!!

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  19. o yezz! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    orbital insertions virgins 100 times harder vacuum reentry keep it coming! keep it coming!