Is Virgin Galactic a dead duck?

Is Virgin Galactic a dead duck?

Author
Discussion

Gandahar

Original Poster:

9,600 posts

127 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
quotequote all
Considering they lead the field are they now just marketing? How many years has it been?

They seem to have lost ground to other teams.


Eric Mc

121,775 posts

264 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
quotequote all
We'll see when they start flight testing the replacement vehicle in a few months time.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
quotequote all
They ditched scaled composites, spent multimillions, took a decade or so longer than thought and as yet have no 'space tourists', which is their pretty inglorious ultimate goal.

It was a dead duck before they started.

Eric Mc

121,775 posts

264 months

Friday 15th April 2016
quotequote all
I don't think it is - it just depends on how much time, effort and money they are willing to continue to expend on the project. That is their decision - irrespective of what others think.

Toaster

2,938 posts

192 months

Friday 15th April 2016
quotequote all
Not Just yet https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/19/vi...

However its a bit of a joy ride as it just goes up then comes back down as noted by Chris Hadfield https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/26/vi...

His Prophecy of they will eventually crash one came a little earlier than even he thought it would. http://www.gizmag.com/hadfield-on-virgin-galactic/...

If they lose another one especially with passengers regulation will probably kick in and make it tougher to operate so it will be interesting to see what happens.

Tempest_5

603 posts

196 months

Thursday 21st April 2016
quotequote all
Good Luck to them. If it was that easy it would have been done years ago. Someone has to be first. Look at how electric/battery cars have progressed since the first efforts.

Even if they fail commercially, a lot of people will be learning a lot on this project and will move onto the next generation of commercial space transport vehicles. It is not a wasted effort even if Virgin Galactic goes down the pan (which I hope they don't).

hidetheelephants

23,741 posts

192 months

Thursday 21st April 2016
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How close is Blue Origin's rocket-powered dildo to commercial operation?

Fastpedeller

3,847 posts

145 months

Thursday 21st April 2016
quotequote all
Tempest_5 said:
Good Luck to them. If it was that easy it would have been done years ago. Someone has to be first. Look at how electric/battery cars have progressed since the first efforts.
Electric vehicles have had very slow progression over 100 years.

Tempest_5

603 posts

196 months

Thursday 21st April 2016
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Alright, poor example, but the point is that this is evolving technology and you see the same thing with other products.


RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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This isnt a commercial space transport system, its an expensive fairground ride.

Toaster

2,938 posts

192 months

Sunday 24th April 2016
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RobDickinson said:
This isnt a commercial space transport system, its an expensive fairground ride.
+1

Moonhawk

10,730 posts

218 months

Monday 25th April 2016
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RobDickinson said:
This isnt a commercial space transport system, its an expensive fairground ride.
It was never designed to be a commercial space transport system. Putting stuff in orbit is a whole different ballgame compared to sub orbital flights.

It's an expensive fairground ride because it was designed to be just that......the point is, people pay good money for fairground rides.

Edited by Moonhawk on Monday 25th April 00:29

MartG

20,620 posts

203 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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New vehicle rolled out today


RobDickinson

31,343 posts

253 months

Monday 1st August 2016
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Hope they have a post it note on that lever now...

scubadude

2,618 posts

196 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2016
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RobDickinson said:
Hope they have a post it note on that lever now...
Hopefully not the note Will Smith had in Independence Day- "Opps"

Toaster

2,938 posts

192 months

Tuesday 13th September 2016
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I was surprised no one has mentioned that Virgin Galactic Successfully Completes First Test Flight in Two Years
http://fortune.com/2016/09/10/virgin-galactic-test...

ianrb

1,529 posts

139 months

Tuesday 13th September 2016
quotequote all
Moonhawk said:
RobDickinson said:
This isnt a commercial space transport system, its an expensive fairground ride.
It was never designed to be a commercial space transport system. Putting stuff in orbit is a whole different ballgame compared to sub orbital flights.

It's an expensive fairground ride because it was designed to be just that......the point is, people pay good money for fairground rides.

Edited by Moonhawk on Monday 25th April 00:29
To be fair they are working on a satellite launch system, although I'm not sure how much is PR puff and how much is engineering.

http://www.virgingalactic.com/satellite-launch/