Virgin: Tourism Wins Over Commercial Cargo

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Credit: Virgin Galactic

While Virgin Orbit failed back in April, Virgin Galactic is going strong and planning to start its tourism business in August. But first it has a scientific mission later this month.

Here is the word from Virgin Galactic:

While carrying satellites into space is no longer on the menu, bringing scientists to space for work is still part of the plan. But with many individuals willing to pay $450,000 apiece to experience the weightlessness of space, it appears tourism is the winner here.

I am not sure what that says about commercial space stations. Would they be better as floating hotels or casinos? Maybe so, as we learned in an Architectural Digest story late last year titled “A Space Hotel Could Open as Soon as 2025” (see image below).

Image (Credit): Artist’s rendering of the Voyager Station. (Orbital Assembly Corporation)