Factbox: Branson, Bezos and Musk - three space tourism pioneers
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Three billionaire entrepreneurs - Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk - are competing to usher in a new era of commercial space tourism. Here is how their rival ventures compare in the race to open the final frontier to wealthy, would-be citizen astronauts.
Billionaire Branson set to fly to space aboard Virgin Galactic rocket plane
Decades after burnishing his reputation as a wealthy daredevil mogul in a series of boating and hot-air balloon expeditions, Richard Branson is poised to promote his burgeoning astro-tourism venture by launching himself to the final frontier. Branson s Virgin Galactic Holding Inc is due on Sunday to send the company s passenger rocket plane, the VSS Unity, on its first fully crewed test flight to the edge of space, with the British billionaire founder among the six individuals strapping in for the ride.
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NEW MEXICO As the first passenger rocket plane gears up for takeoff, a sleepy desert town near Spaceport America in New Mexico is hoping for a liftoff from tourism. The oddly named town of Truth or Consequences, 48 kilometres (30 miles) from the launchpad, relies on its hot springs, healing waters, and nearby Elephant Butte reservoir for its livelihood. But tourism has evaporated with the drought, which brought the reservoir s water level toward record lows. Residents of TorC, as they call it, are looking skyward for relief. This is real pioneering stuff, opening up the heavens to the entire world, said town manager Bruce Swingle, who is organizing a watch party on Sunday for Richard Branson s launch of Virgin Galactic Holding Inc s space tourism flight.
Richard Branson s official role is to evaluate the private astronaut experience.
Las Cruces:
He s always dreamed of it, and in 2004 founded his own company to make it happen.
On Sunday, billionaire Richard Branson will take off from a base in New Mexico aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel bound for the edge of space.
The Briton is hoping to finally get the nascent space tourism industry off the ground but also go one up on Jeff Bezos by winning the race to be the first person to cross the final frontier in a ship built by their own company.
The Amazon founder s great rival, SpaceX boss Elon Musk, announced on Twitter he d be there to witness it.
Richard Branson set to fly into space aboard Virgin Galactic spaceflight; check out details
Branson s Virgin Galactic Holding Inc is due on Sunday to send the company s passenger rocket plane, the VSS Unity, on its first fully crewed test flight to the edge of space, with the British billionaire founder among the six individuals strapping in for the ride Billionaire Sir Richard Branson (Picture Courtesy: Twitter @richardbranson) Reuters
Updated Jul 11, 2021, 10:41 AM IST
Decades after burnishing his reputation as a wealthy daredevil mogul in a series of boating and hot-air balloon expeditions, Richard Branson is poised to promote his burgeoning astro-tourism venture by launching himself to the final frontier.