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Trouble In Branson-Land, As Would-Be Space Tourists Get Antsy Over Delays

Posted by timothy on from the that's-only-a-few-months dept.

schwit1 (797399) writes "Rumors are flying that some of the individuals who gave Virgin Galactic deposits for space tourism flights on SpaceShipTwo are demanding their money back. It appears that the most recent delay, revealed by Branson on David Letterman, is the cause." How much would you pay to go to space, if the ticket was only good starting 10 years from now? How about 20? How about, as Branson claims, if it was early next year?

3 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. They're not astronauts, they're ballast. by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It seems some are claiming they won't consider themselves astronauts if the flight doesn't go above a certain height. Given that they add nothing to the mission other than weight, I say they won't be astronauts no matter how high the flight goes...they are just...ballast.

    --
    All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
    1. Re:They're not astronauts, they're ballast. by LoverOfJoy · · Score: 5, Funny

      *Bob, tied to the sailboat* "I'm a sailor! I sail!"

  2. Re:Ready when its ready. by the+monolith · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lets get the terminology right:
    Passengers are actually Self-Loading Cargo.
    Passengers are loaded into Cattle Class no matter how much they pay for their fodder.
    Passengers are treated like toothpaste - forced in at one end, squeezed out at the other end.
    Height is distance above ground (dirty brown stuff,)
    Altitude is distance above mean sea level (dirty wet stuff)
    Auto pilots were made so that Captain Speaking and First Officer Here (heroic chaps!) could check their stock options and give peace of mind to the Trolly Dolly - Cynthia Strapin, that for at least some portion of the flight the aircraft was actually under proper control.

    I for one salute the brave, bold, adventurous, noble souls that want to go to the edge of space and have a peek, but I would rather spend the time in a broken down elevator with late '60s muzak and a herd of incontinent goats.