Tag

Commercial Space Travel

All articles tagged with #commercial space travel

spaceaviation1 year ago•2 min saved

"Virgin Galactic's Recent Spaceflight: Pin Detached Mid-Flight"

Virgin Galactic experienced an in-flight hardware issue during its recent crewed space tourism flight when a pin used to align its spaceplane and carrier aircraft became detached, though it did not pose a safety risk. The company caught the issue during post-flight reviews and is conducting a review with the FAA. This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of the aerospace industry, and Virgin Galactic plans to provide further updates after the review.

via NDTV|

#commercial-space-travel #faa #safety

space-exploration-entertainment1 year ago•1 min saved

"Playboy's Ambitious Space Grotto Project Revealed"

In 2012, Virgin Galactic and Playboy Magazine collaborated on plans for an orbital space station featuring a version of Playboy's Grotto, complete with a restaurant, zero-gravity dance club, and suites for guests. The theoretical space station would use spin to create gravity in certain areas while allowing for zero-G activities in others. However, with the decline of Virgin Galactic and Playboy's business, these plans remain unrealized as the space race has been dominated by other companies and magazines face challenges in the digital age.

via Giant Freakin Robot|

#commercial-space-travel #concept-art #playboy

space2 years ago•2 min saved

"Axiom-3 Mission: Türkiye's First Astronaut Joins Crew for Stunning ISS Approach Over Himalayas"

The Axiom-3 crew, consisting of members from Sweden, the U.S., Spain, Italy, and Turkey, arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) after launching from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The crew's arrival brings the total number of people aboard the ISS to 11, and they will conduct science experiments and outreach events during their stay. Axiom Space, with backing from NASA and SpaceX, organized the mission, aiming to grow a commercial economy in low-Earth orbit and eventually build a commercial space station to replace the ISS.

via Digital Trends|

#axiom-3 #commercial-space-travel #iss

business2 years ago•11 min saved

Spaceport America: A Dream Delayed, But Not Forgotten

Spaceport America in New Mexico, a project intended to boost the local economy through commercial space travel, has fallen short of expectations. Despite recent momentum with six launches by anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, the spaceport has not generated the anticipated aerospace-related jobs and tourism. The project, which cost over $200 million in state and local funds, has faced delays, financial mismanagement allegations, and setbacks such as layoffs and the suspension of flights. While some see potential for the future, others view it as a bad investment and question the choice of anchor tenant.

via The New York Times|

#business #commercial-space-travel #economic-development

business2 years ago•2 min saved

Virgin Galactic's Stock Skyrockets Amid Job Cuts and Shift in Spacecraft Focus

Virgin Galactic's stock surged by 27% after the company announced plans to cut 18% of its workforce and shift to a new spacecraft, the Delta, which is expected to be more profitable. The company completed six spaceflights with its initial Unity spaceship but will pause those flights in mid-2024 to focus on the Delta. The new spacecraft will be able to transport 50% more passengers and is projected to achieve positive cash flow by 2026. Virgin Galactic also expects higher revenue for the fourth quarter. The move comes as space-related companies face the need to lower costs and secure funding in a potentially turbulent market.

via Yahoo Finance|

#business #commercial-space-travel #job-cuts

space2 years ago•4 min saved

Virgin Galactic Successfully Completes Final Test Flight Ahead of Commercial Launch

Virgin Galactic successfully completed its first suborbital test flight in two years, with six people onboard, including four crew members and two pilots. The flight reached an altitude of 54.2 miles, just past the edge of space, and the company is now ready to start flying its backlog of paying customers. Virgin Galactic has charged as much as $450,000 per ticket. The flight comes as the company has been bleeding cash, and as a tightening economy has forced a reckoning in the commercial space industry.

via The Washington Post|

#commercial-space-travel #richard-branson #space

space2 years ago•7 min saved

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity set for powered test flight ahead of space tourism launch.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity is set to make its first powered flight since the Unity 22 mission in July 2021. The Unity 25 mission will have a full crew complement of six, including two pilots and four Virgin Galactic employees who will test out the customer experience prior to the beginning of commercial operations. The spacecraft is scheduled to take off from the Spaceport America complex near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and will climb to an altitude of over 80 kilometers, which is at the edge of space. If Unity 25 goes as planned, the next flight will start the company’s commercial research service with the long-delayed Italian Air Force flight.

via NASASpaceflight.com|

#aerospace-engineering #commercial-space-travel #space