Author Topic: SS2 Galactic 03 Spaceflight - Spaceport America - 8 September 2023  (Read 26578 times)

Offline Vahe231991

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Virgin Galactic said its next flight, Galactic 03, is scheduled for September as it continues a monthly flight cadence.

https://spacenews.com/virgin-galactic-conducts-first-space-tourist-suborbital-flight/
« Last Edit: 10/03/2023 01:07 pm by Galactic Penguin SST »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/virgin-galactic-announces-flight-window-for-third-commercial-spaceflight

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NEWS • 28/08/23
VIRGIN GALACTIC ANNOUNCES FLIGHT WINDOW FOR THIRD COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT

‘Galactic 03’ to Fly Three Virgin Galactic “Founder” Customers
Flight Window Opens September 8, 2023
Company’s Fourth Spaceflight in Four Months


ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. August 28, 2023 – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“the Company” or “Virgin Galactic”) today announced the ‘Galactic 03’ flight window will open September 8, 2023, continuing a monthly cadence of spaceflights. This would be the Company’s fourth spaceflight in four months.

The three ‘Galactic 03’ crew members are the first of Virgin Galactic’s group of ‘Founder’ astronauts – the first customers whose forward-thinking vision and early ticket purchases helped make the dream of regular commercial spaceflights a reality.

The ‘Galactic 03’ crew bought their tickets as early as 2005 and, since then, have been an active part of the Company’s vibrant Future Astronaut community. This community – comprised of approximately 800 individuals representing over 60 different countries – enjoys access to distinctive experiences designed to inspire and to enrich their spaceflight experience.

The pilots for ‘Galactic 03’ are VSS Unity Commander, Nicola Pecile, and VSS Unity Pilot, Michael Masucci; the Astronaut Instructor is Colin Bennett.

In the past twelve weeks, Virgin Galactic has introduced eleven new astronauts to the world. Following the ‘Galactic 03’ spaceflight, the customers on board would become Virgin Galactic astronauts 014, 015 and 016.
« Last Edit: 08/28/2023 01:53 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline Fmedici

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https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/virgin-galactic-announces-flight-window-for-third-commercial-spaceflight

Quote
NEWS • 28/08/23
VIRGIN GALACTIC ANNOUNCES FLIGHT WINDOW FOR THIRD COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT

‘Galactic 03’ to Fly Three Virgin Galactic “Founder” Customers
Flight Window Opens September 8, 2023
Company’s Fourth Spaceflight in Four Months


ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. August 28, 2023 – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“the Company” or “Virgin Galactic”) today announced the ‘Galactic 03’ flight window will open September 8, 2023, continuing a monthly cadence of spaceflights. This would be the Company’s fourth spaceflight in four months.

The three ‘Galactic 03’ crew members are the first of Virgin Galactic’s group of ‘Founder’ astronauts – the first customers whose forward-thinking vision and early ticket purchases helped make the dream of regular commercial spaceflights a reality.

The ‘Galactic 03’ crew bought their tickets as early as 2005 and, since then, have been an active part of the Company’s vibrant Future Astronaut community. This community – comprised of approximately 800 individuals representing over 60 different countries – enjoys access to distinctive experiences designed to inspire and to enrich their spaceflight experience.

The pilots for ‘Galactic 03’ are VSS Unity Commander, Nicola Pecile, and VSS Unity Pilot, Michael Masucci; the Astronaut Instructor is Colin Bennett.

In the past twelve weeks, Virgin Galactic has introduced eleven new astronauts to the world. Following the ‘Galactic 03’ spaceflight, the customers on board would become Virgin Galactic astronauts 014, 015 and 016.

Finally they're making mission patches

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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At three passengers per month and an 800 passenger backlog, that will take about 22 years to complete! Revenue would initially be $7.2M per year, assuming $200K per passenger for the early ticket holders.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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At three passengers per month and an 800 passenger backlog, that will take about 22 years to complete! Revenue would initially be $7.2M per year, assuming $200K per passenger for the early ticket holders.

IIRC the original 100 Founder passengers had to pay up front in full. So there’s no new revenue for the next flight, nor for quite a few flights after that if the founders take priority!

Edit to add: Doh! It was probably held in escrow, so VG can recognise the revenue now.

Anyway, it’s clear that VG is not going to get anywhere near cash flow positive until Delta class starts flying.
« Last Edit: 08/29/2023 08:58 am by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline niwax

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At three passengers per month and an 800 passenger backlog, that will take about 22 years to complete! Revenue would initially be $7.2M per year, assuming $200K per passenger for the early ticket holders.

IIRC the original 100 Founder passengers had to pay up front in full. So there’s no new revenue for the next flight, nor for quite a few flights after that if the founders take priority!

Edit to add: Doh! It was probably held in escrow, so VG can recognise the revenue now.

Anyway, it’s clear that VG is not going to get anywhere near cash flow positive until Delta class starts flying.

It should be held in escrow, but especially the dodgier startups can be very creative. At the height the of the boom, one EV startup plainly had in their terms "Your downpayment is a nonrefundable purchase of a potential production slot and will be used to finance development". Here's what their latest 10Q has to say about it:

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(2) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
The Company maintains certain cash balances restricted as to withdrawal or use. Restricted cash consists of cash deposits received from future astronauts that are contractually restricted for operational use until the condition of carriage is signed or the deposits are refunded.

It strongly depends how they define "condition of carriage", which can mean as little as "a flight ticket has been issued, and any cancellation and rebooking is now at the mercy of the company". Because on their balance sheet, they list $100 million in liabilities from customer deposits that are only backed by $40 million in restricted cash. Everything else is, at the very least, not held in escrow and would still be lost in a bankruptcy, for example.
Which booster has the most soot? SpaceX booster launch history! (discussion)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Nice photo!

https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1699129781521113545

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It’s giving #Galactic03 spaceflight week! 🤩
« Last Edit: 09/05/2023 06:52 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1699223010585235517

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L-3! Tailcone views as we continue to prepare for the #Galactic03 mission currently on schedule for this Friday, September 8.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1699500876057174204

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POV: It’s L-2 and today’s agenda includes G Awareness Training in an aerobatic aircraft. #Galactic03

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1699585706610561038

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Another day of spaceflight training in the books! 📚

A message from Astronaut Instructor Colin Bennett. Let’s go, #Galactic03!

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Virgin Galactic
@virgingalactic
Final fit check done ✅ We are on schedule for take-off tomorrow, September 8. #Galactic03

https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1699910830656209296


Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1700106426419753095

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Preparations are well underway for today’s #Galactic03 spaceflight in the hangar. Take-off is scheduled for 8:30am MDT. Stay tuned for live updates on X.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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There’s no press release with details of this flight, nor apparently a Virgin Galactic live stream. I’m guessing some more founder astronauts who don’t want publicity?

Yes, I’m aware there are alleged leaks of crew names on social media but nothing confirmed.

Offline niwax

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I know they want to make it look all busy and important, but that at least $2 million/year in crew in the photo on location in the hangar for something that launches every 4 (now claimed 2) weeks. With three people paying $250000, that's a mere 22% of revenue eaten up by hangar crew.
Which booster has the most soot? SpaceX booster launch history! (discussion)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1700144319426855164

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Today’s a great day to go to space! VSS Unity and our #Galactic03 crew are on schedule to take-off from @Spaceport_NM.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1700149421428670955

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Today’s #Galactic03 mission will mark our:

◆ 8th spaceflight
◆ 4th spaceflight in 2023
◆ 3rd commercial spaceflight

https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1700152998339522892

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For the newcomers, here's a refresher on our flight profile. #Galactic03

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1700158668602282236

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We have take-off at 8:34am MDT 🤩 #Galactic03
« Last Edit: 09/08/2023 02:47 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline Skyrocket

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So this is first time that a spaceflight happens where not all crew members have been announced publicly.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1700169032329298326

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Release, release, release! #VSSUnity has successfully released from our mothership #VMSEve and ignited the rocket motor.  #Galactic03

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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So this is first time that a spaceflight happens where not all crew members have been announced publicly.

I believe so, although I suspect it may become a lot more common (if passengers request privacy).

 

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