Richard Branson is flying into space, nine days before Jeff Bezos.
Richard Branson is flying into space, nine days before Jeff Bezos
The race to be the first billionaire in space is on.
In June, Amazon CEO and richest man in the world Jeff Bezos announced that he, along with his brother, will be flying into space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft on July 20.
However, he may not be the first very rich dude to do that, as Virgin Galactic founder and also billionaire Richard Branson announced that he will be flying into space aboard the next Virgin Galactic flight.
Virgin Galactic's next spaceflight is scheduled for July 11, meaning that Branson should beat Bezos by nine days, which is probably the best way to truly annoy the richest man in the world.
"I truly believe that space belongs to all of us. After 17 years of research, engineering and innovation, Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry poised to open the universe to humankind and change the world for good," Branson said in a statement.
This will be 22nd flight test for Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spacecraft, and the first carrying a full crew, consisting of Virgin Galactic employees. The spacecraft is designed for space tourism, with a spacious cabin and tons of windows. It launches from an aircraft, and is capable of reaching an altitude of about 55 miles. In comparison, Blue Origin's New Shepard, which launches from the ground, has previously reached the altitude of about 66 miles.
Given that the internationally recognized boundary of space, also called the Karman line, is at 62 miles of altitude, this should give Bezos something to brag about even if Branson gets to space first. But Virgin Galactic's spacecraft should be able to comfortably reach the NASA-defined boundary of space, which is 50 miles.
The company will share a livestream of the event over at its website and YouTube channel, starting at 9 a.m. ET on July 11.
There should also be some news following the flight, as Branson said that he would announce something "very exciting to give more people the chance to become an astronaut."
Just think of the good they could do with their money! Bezos could actually start by treating his employees decently.
ReplyDeleteThe race is on!
ReplyDeleteThe battle of the billionaires....couldn't they use their money for more good and less selfish pursuits? Totally disinterested.
ReplyDeletelike flushing it in the toilet instead of using for good.
DeleteA monumental waste of money. The money both entrepreneurs are wasting on this could have solved a lot of other problems for society if either of them cared.
ReplyDeleteThis is what Richard Branson did;
Delete1. He hired a space port in a desert town, people got jobs.
2. He hired engineers to work, now the engineers can feed their families. The engineers
also renting in a town, property owners have hired more people, that's more food.
3. He hired astronauts, most of them were never going to make it to NASA so they were going to be unemployed for life. They too can hire out nannies and gardeners so that's more jobs.
Why is society's issues their problem?
DeleteIf that's the case u could argue that Bezos also did the same with Blue Origin
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy
DeletePhilanthropy is voluntary, not a demand.
DeleteLike paying fair wages and taxes
DeleteHow would it not be the case?
DeleteSo sick of Billionaires bragging about what they are doing outside of saving our Mother Earth....so sick of it.
ReplyDeleteI hope they all go to space. Planet would be better off. Just think of the carbon footprint that would be gone. No big planes flying around. Any of the other one percent want to go
DeleteAbsolutely we all are sick of theses scumbags and the wealth they stole from everyone by (1.) not paying employees properly and (2.) lobbying for huge tax breaks. They only take from our communities and families. Plus we are even more tried of the mindless minions that idolize these dirt bags
DeleteIt’s so distasteful
DeleteGood, maybe aliens will keep both of them
ReplyDeleteLOLO yes good point…maybe we can put them all in one rocket and shoot it into the sun. That’s a good way to eliminate all the greedy garbage…put their mindless minions who idolize these carpetbaggers in the rocket too. They’re brainwashed slaves for the greedy wealthy…useless for our society ;D
DeleteFeed the hungry. House the poor. Help with climate change.
ReplyDeleteSeems like fixing the planet is a better long term investment.
ReplyDeleteGoing into space is not new, in college I had a floor mate that space out every weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt’s like that movie where all the billionaires went into space one right after the other and never came back.
ReplyDeleteThat means more money for you man.
DeleteThey are not going into space. Space would be the international space station. They are just going into a high orbit and coming back to earth. It is a waste of money and time.
ReplyDeleteImagine being so rich that you can compete to be the first multi billionaire to go to space in your own rocket.
ReplyDeleteThis is the space race that is worth firing up your popcorn maker!
ReplyDeleteWhat’s wrong with these rich people? ;D Elon will be going to space tomorrow. Nice competitive spirit. ;D
ReplyDeleteHope goes better than some of his balloon mishaps in the 80s.
ReplyDeleteTeam Branson here.
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate rich person peen measuring contest.
ReplyDeleteIts his ship, he can whenever he wants
ReplyDeleteWill he be moving his tax residency to space first?
ReplyDeleteImagine being able to solve world hunger and decide to this bs instead
ReplyDeleteElon did not say a word, but he is going up on Tuesday…
ReplyDeleteGood hope they both get lost into the oblivion do us all a sweet favour ;)
ReplyDeleteWho gives a flying f#@k. Take a look at what is going on around us. Boys and their toys got to make more money while people starve.
ReplyDeleteMusk from space: I'm coming back 9 days before Branson leaves.
ReplyDeleteTotally getting “Guilded Age” vibes the last year. What’s amazingly sad are the poor folks cheering on these ego contests of the obscenely rich as average people struggle more than ever with no wage changes.
ReplyDeleteBattle of the little willies o.O
ReplyDeleteStealing his thunder..
ReplyDeleteNice too see that all the price hikes are letting some one live there dreams
ReplyDeleteShould we be signing another petition? o.O :D
ReplyDeleteJust getting a better view from up there to see how the world is falling apart
ReplyDeleteGood let's hope he stays there!!!!
ReplyDeleteProbably money from the Government.
ReplyDeleteHe's robbed the NHS and us
My space pee-pee is larger than yours!
ReplyDeleteIf they only spent their money saving this planet
ReplyDeleteMaybe they won’t come back. Really, what business is it of anyone how another person spends their money?
ReplyDeleteBetter things to use money and time.
ReplyDeleteIs it a contest of egos? Who cares?!
ReplyDeleteHope both rockets explode
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing more unnessesary than to believe space belongs to our life. It is wasted money. And Spaceflight is not about flying.
ReplyDeleteCompetition - they don’t need this! They won’t be successful in the end anyway! ◔_◔ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
ReplyDeleteSeeing them competing to possibly die before one other is getting very exciting!
ReplyDeletein the 1960's the space race was about two leading nations competing to show which system of government was more capable... now we've got billionaires fighting to be the first ones in space.... meanwhile... have you heard about the famines in Yemen, North Africa, and Madagascar?
ReplyDeleteHow petty can rich people get?
ReplyDeleteOut of the way! ME FIRST
A few RICH DUDES flew on Russian rockets and went to the space station years ago.. ROFLMFAO
ReplyDeleteWho cares?
ReplyDeleteWho cares
ReplyDeletehttps://media1.tenor.co/images/f0ce0384bb3355b619aced0e7f238a56/tenor.gif?itemid=17107486
ReplyDeleteHopefully you get lost in space
ReplyDeleteWhich one of them has the longest ?
ReplyDeleteGood!
ReplyDelete