Billionaire Richard Branson understands critics who say the resources he spent on his flight to the edge of space on Sunday could have been better used to address other issues, but believes there is room for both.
Virgin Galactic founder spoke in an exclusive interview with Sirisha Bandla, Vice President for Government Affairs of Virgin Galactic, TODAY Wednesday in an exclusive interview with those who say issues such as economic inequality, climate change and the pandemic make money from the ultra rich, before areas like civil space travel.
“I 100% agree that people in wealthy positions should spend most of their money, 90% or more of their money, tackling these issues, but we should also create new industries that can produce 800 engineers and scientists, they can do wonderful things that make space accessible at a fraction of the environmental cost of the past, “Branson told Hoda Kotb.
He added that the environmental cost of sending people to suborbital space through Virgin Galactic is the same as a round-trip trip on a Virgin Atlantic trip from London and back.
Branson, 70, fulfills a lifelong dream on Sunday on board a rocket-propelled vehicle developed by Virgin Galactic as its flight with five other crew members took off from the New Mexico desert and reached the edge of space at an altitude of more than 85 kilometers.
The flight lasted a little over an hour and included about four minutes of weightlessness.
Branson and Bandla were part of a crew of six that included pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci, Virgin Galactic’s chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses, and chief operations engineer Colin Bennett.
The flight was a dream that Bandla initially thought impossible as she tried the traditional route to become an astronaut but was disqualified for her poor eyesight.
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“I was trying to figure out how to get there, and around the same time Richard actually announced that he was going to create Virgin Galactic (in 2004) and it would be a space line for everyone, making space accessible for everyone,” said Bandla on TODAY. “And I remember thinking this is how I get into space.
“Fast forward to today, I came to Virgin Galactic for this purpose, hopefully opening up space for everyone.”
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Bandla added that another benefit of Virgin Galactic’s aerospace industry is the ability to conduct experiments in space while in flight.
“We now have the opportunity to send researchers up with their experiments,” said Bandla. “Ordinarily, you would give your experiment to an astronaut or NASA or some other agency with instructions, but now you can fly with it.
“So if you look at some of the footage you see me playing with this tube on that last flight, I’m actually doing a science experiment in space.”
Branson also hit his billionaire Jeff Bezos to the edge of space, as Bezos is expected to fly from Texas on July 20 on a rocket designed by his own space company Blue Origin.
“I’m delighted that he will have the most incredible experience and team with him,” said Branson.
Sunday’s flight marks the first step in Virgin Galactic’s hopes of commencing commercial space flights with private customers next year with reported costs of approximately $ 250,000 per person for a trip into space. The company has already been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to carry passengers into suborbital space on future commercial flights.
Branson is also trying to open space travel to more than just the rich. Virgin Galactic announced that it has partnered with fundraising platform Omaze to launch a competition to give away two tickets to a Virgin Galactic space flight due to launch next year.
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