"There is no discrete physical boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. Different organizations have named different altitudes in an attempt to codify space’s official border: NASA and the US Air Force use the threshold of 50 miles (80 kilometers) to award astronaut wings, recognizing the pilots of the iconic X-15 program that so inspired our own vehicles. The “Kármán line” of 100 kilometers (62 miles) is also used, particularly outside of the USA.Although its exact apogee may vary from flight to flight, SpaceShipTwo is designed to reach altitudes above these thresholds."http://www.virgingalactic.com/human-spaceflight/your-flight-to-space/Sir Richard, if we don't exceed those thresholds as outlined on your web page, do we get a refund or re-flight?
This stuff is difficult, probably a lot more difficult than Branson expected. At least he has stuck with it, and continued to invest in it, rather than cutting his losses and running. I can understand the negativity when companies are financing their plans from others money, but don't really get it when people are spending their own money on their own plans. Surely customers can get a refund if they don't get what they paid for.
Most of the recent money came from an investment fund in the Middle East (Kuwait I think).
Quote from: Rocket Science on 10/20/2017 03:35 pm"There is no discrete physical boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. Different organizations have named different altitudes in an attempt to codify space’s official border: NASA and the US Air Force use the threshold of 50 miles (80 kilometers) to award astronaut wings, recognizing the pilots of the iconic X-15 program that so inspired our own vehicles. The “Kármán line” of 100 kilometers (62 miles) is also used, particularly outside of the USA.Although its exact apogee may vary from flight to flight, SpaceShipTwo is designed to reach altitudes above these thresholds."http://www.virgingalactic.com/human-spaceflight/your-flight-to-space/Sir Richard, if we don't exceed those thresholds as outlined on your web page, do we get a refund or re-flight?The ticket holder agreement stipulates 50 miles. Saying the ship is designed to reach these altitudes is different from saying it will.
I think the answers are fairly obvious, once SS2 is flying customers and the performance is known if you don't want the experience on offer then you get a refund on your deposite. If you still want to fly then pay the rest of the fair and away you go.The only way to know for sure though is to take a look at the contract.I suspect that it will be worded such that you are paying for a flight on a vehicle, not a specific altitude and that Virgin has the right to change the conditions if needed.
Quote from: john smith 19 on 10/21/2017 10:19 amMost of the recent money came from an investment fund in the Middle East (Kuwait I think). Aabar, owned by the government of Abu Dhabi.
It’s official: FAA has added our future home base @Spaceport_NM as an approved launch site in our operator license. We are getting #NMReady
So if on "my' flight we only get to 49 miles, then what??
Quote from: Rocket Science on 10/21/2017 01:48 pmSo if on "my' flight we only get to 49 miles, then what??You get a 2% refund?
QuoteIt’s official: FAA has added our future home base @Spaceport_NM as an approved launch site in our operator license. We are getting #NMReadyhttps://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/922900185465982977
Wow:QuotePress release: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced plans to invest $1 billion in Virgin Galactic, TSC, Virgin Orbit.https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/923560891647488000QuoteThe release describes this as a “a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a partnership” with option for addl. $480M investment.https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/923561188658688000
Press release: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced plans to invest $1 billion in Virgin Galactic, TSC, Virgin Orbit.
The release describes this as a “a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a partnership” with option for addl. $480M investment.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2017/10/26/virgin-galactics-spaceshipthree/The image in the above article is supposedly SpaceShipThree, a point to point spaceplane.
Quote from: Darkseraph on 10/26/2017 09:59 pmhttp://www.parabolicarc.com/2017/10/26/virgin-galactics-spaceshipthree/The image in the above article is supposedly SpaceShipThree, a point to point spaceplane.I doubt that is anything more than an artist’s impression to look good and suggest there’s something to the supersonic p2p travel. I find it hard to believe, with all the issues they’ve had, that VG has put any real money into this yet. However, presumably the $1B now gives them the resources to look at this more seriously. It’ll be interesting to see what happens, but I’m not holding my breath!
And how many billions does someone have to invest before you do stop holding your breath on the matter?