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Ian Stirling wrote:
In sci.space.policy Jeff Findley wrote: "Curious-yellow" wrote in message ... The new service will be called Virgin Galactic and expects to fly 3,000 new astronauts in its first five years. Fares will start at $208,000 for a two- to three-hour suborbital flight, including three days' training. Is that price really so bad? It is, after all, a full two orders of magnitude cheaper than the going price for an orbital flight. Based on the survey results, I think they've reached a price point where the very rich will find this an affordable price for "the ultimate thrill ride". Though about an order of magnitude more expensive per second. NASCAR is another order of magnitude still, but they give you a bottle of champagne. -- -------(m+ ~/)_| The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, **** detector. -- Hemingway http://scrawlmark.org |
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I Lurk Alone wrote:
Chuck Lysaght wrote: "Curious-yellow" wrote in message ... Posted on Tue, Sep. 28, 2004 It's the market system that will develop space travel imho. If I were filthy rich, I would take advantage of this in a heartbeat. You're halfway there. Aw, gee, half a heart. He can beat you into space with a can of Sterno and a Dumpster, just as soon as he learns how to use a match. -- -------(m+ ~/)_| The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, **** detector. -- Hemingway http://scrawlmark.org |
#13
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Aidan Karley wrote in message idated...
In article , Bill Bogen wrote: He'd net about $400 million or $80 million/year. Not bad. Few people have called Branson a fool. A twit, a fashion victim, and a dribbling idiot, but when it comes to money, he's not a fool. The problem with Branson is he is a great publicity merchant who launches endless businesses, unfortunately quite a lot of them are quietly folded a little while later. Hopefully VG won't be one of these. A classic is Virgin Mobile - great success in the UK, but a disaster in a load of other markets where he's shut up shop. Apart from on the airline I can't remember the last time I saw Virgin Cola for sale. Dave |
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#15
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"Jeff Findley" wrote:
Clearly, suborbital flights will be limited to the very wealthy, but what's $200k on a single "vacation" to a person who makes over $1 million a year? $200k is expensive as hell for a short thrill ride at that income level. *However*, if the ride is the culmination of a week of 'training' and events leading up to the flight... The picture changes. D. -- Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh. |
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"Derek Lyons" wrote in message ... "Jeff Findley" wrote: Clearly, suborbital flights will be limited to the very wealthy, but what's $200k on a single "vacation" to a person who makes over $1 million a year? $200k is expensive as hell for a short thrill ride at that income level. *However*, if the ride is the culmination of a week of 'training' and events leading up to the flight... The picture changes. I'm sure that's what it will be. In addition to the physical, I'm sure they'll have fun by taking a ride on a centrifuge to simulate the acceleration of launch. Perhaps they'll carry parachutes, and will need training to use them. Then there's the simulated flight that would show video from screens outside the portholes (fly one test flight with cameras pointing out all the portholes and you've got video to simulate the flight). In addition, I'm sure there are lots of other "fun" things they could "borrow" from Space Camp and present them as training. Doing all of this "training" on the ground should cost a fraction of that $200k, but add greatly to the overall experience. Jeff -- Remove icky phrase from email address to get a valid address. |
#17
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In article , Derek Lyons
wrote: "Jeff Findley" wrote: Clearly, suborbital flights will be limited to the very wealthy, but what's $200k on a single "vacation" to a person who makes over $1 million a year? $200k is expensive as hell for a short thrill ride at that income level. *However*, if the ride is the culmination of a week of 'training' and events leading up to the flight... The picture changes. Make deals with studios so the customers can go up dressed in authentic SF outfits (Star Trek, Babylon 5, Gundam, etc) or NASA gear and it changes again Hell, can you imagine the fantasy camp/ roleplaying possibilities? -- Chris Mack "Refugee, total ****. That's how I've always seen us. 'Invid Fan' Not a help, you'll admit, to agreement between us." -'Deal/No Deal', CHESS |
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I Lurk Alone wrote in message ...
Chuck Lysaght wrote: "Curious-yellow" wrote in message ... Posted on Tue, Sep. 28, 2004 It's the market system that will develop space travel imho. If I were filthy rich, I would take advantage of this in a heartbeat. You're halfway there. At least I don't hide behind a phony e-mail account. |
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