No way I am going up in Virgin Galactic's spacecraft!
Posted on 08 December 2009 with no comments from readers
It would be a great joke if it was not true. Yesterday Richard Branson unveiled his spacecraft for tourists willing to pay $200,000 for a ticket to go into space.
I was at the press conference in Dubai where he asked whether anybody would not take the chance of going into space. Only my hand went up. Sir Richard ignored my modest protest and carried on with his presentation.
Final frontier
Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the starship Virgin Galactic! But you know he actually means it.
Who in their right minds would try to exit the earth’s atmosphere in an experimental spacecraft? For that is what the Virgin Galactic is offering. A commercial aircraft needs thousands of test flights, that is not going to happen with Virgin Galactic.
Sir Richard plans to be the first passenger on the inaugural passenger flight in 18 months time with his family. No amount of money would persuade me to join him.
He speaks of the spacecraft as ‘a giant shuttlecock’ that will avoid the heat of a re-entry. I can still remember the day I stood in the newsroom watching the Challenger space shuttle take off in 1986 and its memorable plunge to back to earth.
Life has its risks. I regularly drive up and down the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, perfectly aware that it is among the most deadly in the world. You do not have to add to the risks of daily life.
Insurance risk
One has to wonder if passengers will be offered life insurance by Virgin. Sir Richard is as into cross-selling as dangerous sports. Of course, no insurance company would touch an astronaut with a barge pole.
I suppose people do risk their lives in dangerous sports all the time. Sir Richard’s ballooning partner Steve Fossett vanished on one of his expeditions.
But I do object to the selling of a major risk to persons being sold as a day-ride, and somebody in a government somewhere ought to stop this mad escapade before somebody gets killed. Its great PR today, how about tomorrow?
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Until several successful test flights with only test pilots on board are accomplished, it is irresponsible for any government to allow thrill seeking passengers to fly in this experimental spacecraft. Although nowhere near as dangerous as orbital flight, this vehicle is still many times more dangerous than any commercial jetliner. Even a slow speed re-entry into the atmosphere is very dangerous. When the first crash occurs, it will do irreparable harm to what has the potential to eventually become a major industry – private space travel. The first disaster will cause insurance companies to shy away from the entire industry for a very long time. I hope noone with small children decides to fly in this thing. The government should make them sign a form designating who will raise their children if they get killed.
This is another example of how ineffective national governments have become. But, after the last 30 years of reckless debt creation, should we be surprised?
The post doesn’t sound very optimistic at all Peter. If Richard didn’t think it was going to be fairly safe then he wouldn’t do it. Of course, the first aeroplanes weren’t too safe either – but it seems they’re taking quite a few years of testing (remember, one guy’s already made to the edge of space and back, twice) to get this right AND they probably don’t have counter-productive committees slowing things down for them etc. which you’ll probably find in huge groups, such as nasa. I think I’d want to have go… after I’ve seen a few people express how great it was
Ed Note: Clearly you are seduced by the BS – this should not be allowed.