2 chapters across the catalog
Virgin Galactic Spaceflight and Private Sector Giddiness
Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic successfully flew a crewed spacecraft to the edge of space, reaching an altitude of 40,000 feet. Skeptics question the euphoria surrounding the event, characterizing it as an expensive "joyride" for the wealthy that pales in comparison to the government-led moon missions of 50 years ago.
Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Crash and Commercial Space Flight Skepticism
Following the fatal crash of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo in the Mojave Desert, author Joelle Glenn Brenner appeared on CNN to criticize the program's technology. She alleged that the engine was insufficient to reach space and that the project's outward enthusiasm did not match its technical reality. The hosts characterize the $250,000-per-ticket venture as an "extreme adventure scam" for the wealthy and compare it to Elon Musk's more successful rocket programs.
