[Boudica]

Richard Branson will be hopping aboard the Virgin Galactic rocket plane today for a 1.5-hour mission above New Mexico. There will be a livestream of the event - see below:

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The vehicle, known as Unity, will be carried by a much bigger aeroplane to an altitude of about 15km (50,000ft), where it will be released.

A rocket motor in the back of Unity will then ignite and blast the ship skyward. The motor will burn for 60 seconds, by which time Sir Richard, his three crewmates and the two pilots up front, will have a remarkable view of the planet below.

The maximum height achievable by Unity is roughly 90km (55 miles, or 295,000ft), but towards the top of the climb Sir Richard will start to enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness and he'll be able to float around the cabin and to look out of the window.

Eventually, though, he'll have to strap back into his seat for the glide return to the spaceport in New Mexico.

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[Miamoo]

Richard Branson's space mission have been a huge success as also Jeff Bezos. Well, congratulations to them for spending billions of dollars to see our planet from space and also to experience weightlessness. I am sure their business minds are working overtime now. I agree it's their money and they are entitled to do whatever with it. But was it necessary now amidst the pandemic when many countries are struggling to get their people vaccinated for want of funds. What purpose does it serve other than satisfying few. I leave you to ponder over it!

[Boudica]

Richard Branson's space mission have been a huge success as also Jeff Bezos. Well, congratulations to them for spending billions of dollars to see our planet from space and also to experience weightlessness. I am sure their business minds are working overtime now. I agree it's their money and they are entitled to do whatever with it. But was it necessary now amidst the pandemic when many countries are struggling to get their people vaccinated for want of funds. What purpose does it serve other than satisfying few. I leave you to ponder over it!

I do understand this perspective. However, another perspective is that it employs thousands upon thousands of people. The technology developed in these programs, often goes on to be used elsewhere. Also, Ultimately, humanity's time on earth is limited. Should we survive long enough to see Earth's expiration date, we will need a means of going elsewhere. This is the start to all that. I'm sure people felt the same when trains, cars and aeroplanes were being developed.

[mothered]

I agree it's their money and they are entitled to do whatever with it. But was it necessary now amidst the pandemic when many countries are struggling to get their people vaccinated for want of funds.

It's no different to every billionaire who does not provide a single dollar of assistance during the pandemic.

Branson chooses to spend his cash, and others decide to keep It. Both Instances are much of a muchness - they're not helping the COVID-19 situation but as you've said, It's their money and they have every right to do as they please.

[Dismas]

Richard Branson's space mission have been a huge success as also Jeff Bezos. Well, congratulations to them for spending billions of dollars to see our planet from space and also to experience weightlessness. I am sure their business minds are working overtime now. I agree it's their money and they are entitled to do whatever with it. But was it necessary now amidst the pandemic when many countries are struggling to get their people vaccinated for want of funds. What purpose does it serve other than satisfying few. I leave you to ponder over it!

I would say Branson has more integrity/character. He done a fair amount of philanthropy, even pledging half his wealth to charity. If he wants to go to space and be weightless for a few minutes, let him. It's scientific advancement in the end.

[Alex1759]

Why fly to space on a day the market is closed? Don't they want instant money for success?

[Boudica]

Why fly to space on a day the market is closed? Don't they want instant money for success?

I might be wrong, but I think it was to do with beating the competition, Bezos and Branson were both aiming for being the first. Counter in the weather openings for this kind of flight - perhaps he didn't have a choice on that front? I could easily be off the mark on that one, though.