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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?

9 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:They're not astronauts, they're ballast. by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Like the Mercury and Vostok guys, then?

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    3. Re:They're not astronauts, they're ballast. by Animats · · Score: 3, Informative

      Like the Mercury and Vostok guys, then?

      "No, not spaceman. Specimin." - von Braun, in "The Right Stuff", speaking of the Mercury astronauts.

  2. Ready when its ready. by BeCre8iv · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You would think prospective human cargo would appreciate this.

    --
    This perpetual motion machine Lisa made is a joke, it just keeps getting faster and faster. - Homer
    1. 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.

  3. What a misleading summary by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Some" is actually "one". Who will demand his money back if they can't make the altitude requirement, not because of delays. Other than that, everything about the summary is accurate.

  4. the virgin galactic craft isn't even a spacecraft by The_Rook · · Score: 4, Insightful

    more to the point, the virgin galactic craft doesn't go anywhere. it has no destination other than downrange. so all branson is selling is a roller coaster ride. and an expensive one at that.

    the russians (and soon spacex) at least have a space station as a destination.

    --
    when religion is no longer the opiate of the masses, governments will resort to real opiates.
  5. Re:the virgin galactic craft isn't even a spacecra by khallow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A roller coaster ride to 100 km. They aren't selling a destination here, but rather an experience. So it's not a problem for them.