Space travel prices to escalate: Virgin Galactic reveals hike in tickets for space journeys, as announced by Branson.
Here's a Fresh Take:
Strap yourselves in, space tourism is gonna cost ya more! 🚀
Heard the buzz? Virgin Galactic, the brainchild of none other than Sir Richard Branson, is ramping up the prices for its suborbital trips on the Delta spacecraft, as per the latest scoop from Bloomberg. Previously, these tickets were priced at around half a mil, but details about the new prices remain under wraps. 🤫
This aerospace company, going toe-to-toe with Blue Origin, is all about whipping up excitement for short-term space travel, centered on tourism and research. Now, they've suspended those glorious rides since June 2024, focusing all energy on upgrading the Delta spacecraft. Be ready to embark on that research flight this summer, with commercial trips for private astronauts coming up in the fall. 👩🚀💼
The updated Delta spacecrafts are a sight to behold, fitting six passengers instead of four, and designed for quicker turnaround times between flights. The company reps claim this will help them sail through their waiting customer list in about a year. ⏩👨🚀
Following the news, shares of Virgin Galactic soared by 13%. Their Q1 2025 revenue stood at $460,000, with a negative free cash flow of a hefty -$122 million.
Speaking of shake-ups, Richard Branson recently parted ways with further investments in Virgin Galactic, his final commercial flight happening on the VSS Unity spacecraft back in June 2024. Four lucky passengers from Turkey, the United States, and Italy took a thrilling hour-long journey to an altitude of around 88.5 km (yes, we checked the metrics). The spacecraft landed successfully at the New Mexico spaceport after the mission's completion.
- The increase in prices for Virgin Galactic's suborbital trips, a move driven by the company's advancements in space-and-astronomy technology, is expected to be significant, given the upgrades in the Delta spacecraft that can accommodate six passengers instead of four, aiming for quicker turnaround times.
- Sir Richard Branson's move away from further investments in Virgin Galactic, despite his success in space tourism with the VSS Unity spacecraft, signifies a shift in finance toward other ventures, as the company, with its foothold in both science and industry, focuses on refining its technology and diversifying its offerings in the space industry.
- The rising interest in space tourism, catalyzed by companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, is impacting the broader technology landscape, as investments in science, finance, and the industry sector are increasingly channeled toward space-and-astronomy research and development, fostering advancements that may revolutionize the way we perceive and explore the universe.
