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☆ Investing in Space: Virgin Galactic enters spaceflight hiatus after retiring Unity
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson, far left, and CEO Michael Colglazier, far right, stand with the crew of the Galactic 07 mission. But Virgin Galactic needs a great suborbital spaceship. But it's a far cry from the forecast Virgin Galactic sold investors on – more than 3,000 "cumulative passengers flown" by 2023 – when it went public five years ago. But that leaves a hiatus before the first Delta spacecraft debuts, with the key target of a first commercial flight in 2026. As a reminder, human spacecraft development is often years delayed, and Virgin Galactic has in the past been no exception: Virgin Galactic was supposed to begin spaceflights in 2010, but didn't until 2018.

Persons: Sir Richard Branson, Michael Colglazier, CNBC's Michael Sheetz, Galactic's, Colglazier, That's, Virgin Organizations: Virgin Galactic, VSS Unity, Galactic, Unity, VSS Imagine, VSS Inspire, VSS, Delta

☆ Opinion: NASA was America’s crown jewel. After the Columbia disaster it was never quite the same
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Opinion Douglas Brinkley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Space Shuttle Columbia launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 16, 2003. Space Shuttle Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:39 a.m. The environmentally controlled chamber was mated to Space Shuttle Columbia for access into the orbiter. NASA Space Shuttle Columbia lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 16, 2003. Students and staff of the Shoshone-Bannock High School had an experiment on board Space Shuttle Columbia.

Persons: Douglas Brinkley, Katherine Tsanoff, John F, Kennedy, ”, Douglas Brinkley Moore Huffman, Nancy Currie, Gregg, Scott Andrews, NASA's, Michael P, Anderson, William C, McCool, Rick D, David M, Brown, Laurel, Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, Joe Skipper, Karl Ronstrom, Ramon, NASA Chawla, Clark, Chawla, Robert Giroux, Kathryn O'Neill, Zachary, Brett Coomer, Florida Sen, Bill Nelson, Matt Stroshane, Tommy Peltier, Eric Gay, Smiley, Gene Theriot, Sean O'Keefe, George W, Bush, Ron Dittemore, Joe Cavaretta, O'Keefe, Mannie Garcia, NASA Sandy Anderson, Carlos Noriega, Michael L, Coats, Evelyn Husband, Thomas, John Raoux, Glenn Benson, Kim Shiflett, Sean O’Keefe, Jeff Bezos, Lockheed Martin, Sir Richard Branson, “ Organizations: Rice University, CNN, Shuttle Columbia, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, Russian Space Agency, Russia, United Arab, Challenger, Columbia, Space, Space Shuttle Columbia, Kennedy Space Center, Reuters Space Shuttle Columbia, Scott Andrews People, Control Center, Getty, NASA Space, Israeli Air Force, Space Shuttle, Red Team, Blue Team, Johnson Space Center, Former, Houston, Houston Chronicle, People, US Navy Corps, Columbia Reconstruction, NASA Workers, Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Reuters, Bannock, Bannock Junior, Senior, Bannock High School, Johnson Space, Shuttle, Investigation, Elon, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Boeing, Lockheed, Virgin Galactic, JFK Locations: China, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Columbia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Houston, Israel, SPACEHAB, New York, Laguna Hills , California, San Augustine , Texas, Washington ,, Shoshone, Fort Hall , Idaho, American

☆ Richard Branson’s cruise line launches month-long cruise for remote workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Mike Cappetta | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Virgin Voyages is targeting a new type of traveler: remote workers. In March, the Miami-based cruise line owned by Sir Richard Branson introduced a month-long cruise called the "Scarlet Summer Season Pass." It's essentially four week-long cruises packaged together to appeal to remote workers who want to spend a month at sea in southern Europe. That prompted Virgin Voyages to open additional spots for remote workers on a second cruise ship this summer. The "Season Pass" cruises will sail on Virgin's Scarlet Lady and Resilient Lady ships, each of which can accommodate around 2,700 guests.

Persons: Sir Richard Branson, It's, Nirmal Saverimuttu, Virgin Organizations: Voyages, CNBC Travel, Virgin Voyages, Cruises Locations: Miami, Europe, Cannes, Rome, Ibiza

☆ The first commercial transatlantic flight powered completely by green fuels is in the air, but critics say it's a gimmick and a joke
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Pete Syme | Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Atlantic is operating the first transatlantic flight on a commercial airliner powered by 100% SAF. But it costs more than double conventional jet fuel, and production is lagging behind demand. Virgin Atlantic is operating the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to New York's JFK Airport, where it's expected to arrive around 2 p.m. "And if we didn't prove it can be done, you would never, ever get sustainable aviation fuel." On Monday, Emirates flew the world's first Airbus A380 demonstration flight using 100% SAF.

Persons: it's, Shai Weiss, Sir Richard Branson, There's, Weiss, Critics, Cait Hewitt Organizations: Virgin, SAF, Service, Virgin Atlantic, Boeing, New York's JFK, International Air Transport Association, BBC, Aviation Environment Federation, CNN, Guardian, UK's Department for Transport, Monday, Emirates, Airbus, Gulfstream, Gulfstream G600 Locations: New, Georgia, England

☆ You can stay on Richard Branson's private island this holiday season—rates start at $5,400 a night
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Have you ever wanted to walk in Sir Richard Branson's shoes? The business mogul is inviting people to visit Necker Island, his famous private island in the Caribbean. Sir Branson typically has friends and family stay during the holiday season or rents out the entire island for over $100,000. But this year, Sir Branson and his team at Necker Island are expanding their offerings. For stays from November 18-25 and December 11-20, rates start at $5,400 a night per room, while stays from December 20-26 start at $5,850.

Persons: Sir Richard Branson's, Sir Branson, they've, James Basson, Necker Island's Organizations: CNBC Locations: Necker, Caribbean

☆ Live updates: Virgin Galactic completes first commercial spaceflight
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People react as the passenger rocket plane operated by Virgin Galactic takes off, during the company's first commercial flight to the edge of space, at the Spaceport America facility, in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, U.S., June 29, 2023. Space tourism company Virgin Galactic , founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2004, completed its long-awaited first commercial spaceflight, called "Galactic 01," on Thursday. The three paying passengers are members of the Italian Air Force. Virgin Galactic's start to commercial service comes after years of delays and setbacks. Virgin Galactic has a backlog of about 800 passengers.

Persons: Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic's Organizations: Virgin Galactic, America, Space, Italian Air Force, Virgin, VSS Unity Locations: New Mexico, U.S

☆ Air New Zealand has been ranked the best airline in the world, a study found. See which others made the top 10.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Air New Zealand has been ranked the best airline in the world by AirlineRatings.com. Air New Zealand has been ranked the best airline in the world by AirlineRatings.com, a website for airline safety and product reviews. Air New Zealand was ranked first for best economy class; Qatar Airways took the lead for business class; and Singapore Airlines was ranked the best first-class airline. Air New ZealandSafety: 7/7Product: 7/7Air New Zealand, or Air NZ, is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. Korean Air has an average score of 7.8/10 based on 60 AirlineRatings.com reviews.

Persons: Geoffrey Thomas, Taylor Rains, Johannes P, Virgin Atlantic Sir Richard Branson, Steve Parsons, Richard Branson, Emirates Yursi Abu Barak Organizations: Morning, Air New, Qatar Airways, Air, Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Delta, US, Ryanair, New Zealand, Air New Zealand Air, Air New Zealand, Air NZ, . Air NZ, Qatar Airways Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways Airbus, Etihad, UAE, Korean Air Korean, Airlines, Korean Air, Christo, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, SIA, Qantas Qantas, Qantas Media Safety, Qantas, Virgin, Virgin Atlantic Boeing, Heathrow Airport, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways Cathay, Boeing, Cathay, Nikkei, Emirates, Dubai . Emirates, UAE . Emirates Locations: Zealand, Air New Zealand, Europe, Air, Auckland , New Zealand, Doha, Qatar, Al Jazeera, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Seoul, South Korea, Bali , Indonesia, Singapore, Asia, Mascot, Australia, Virgin Australia, Crawley , England, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, East Asia, Cathay Pacific Airways Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong, Nikkei Asia, Dubai ., Emirates, Dubai

☆ Virgin Galactic completes Unity 25 spaceflight in key final test before commercial service
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Virgin Galactic did not publicly livestream the flight unlike the previous one that carried founder Sir Richard Branson in July 2021. ET, carrying the company's VSS Unity spacecraft up to an altitude of about 40,000 feet. Virgin Galactic previously said it aims to fly its first commercial mission in "late June," assuming a successful test flight on Thursday. Virgin GalacticUnity 25 represents a crucial moment in the history of Virgin Galactic, which has suffered repeated setbacks and years of delays in developing its spaceflight system. Virgin Galactic has yet to generate meaningful revenue, and needs to be flying spaceflights regularly in order to do so.

☆ Virgin Galactic targets May 25 for first spaceflight since Richard Branson's trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Virgin Galactic is targeting as early as May 25 for the launch of its next spaceflight, which marks both its first in nearly two years since flying founder Sir Richard Branson and its planned last step before beginning commercial service. Called Unity 25, the mission represents the company's fifth spaceflight to date, launching out of Spaceport America in New Mexico. It is a "final assessment" flight, with six Virgin Galactic employees onboard for a short trip to the edge of space. In-house pilots Mike Masucci and CJ Sturckow will fly spacecraft VSS Unity, while Jameel Janjua and Nicola Pecile will fly carrier aircraft VMS Eve. Depending on the outcome and data gathered from Unity 25, the company aims to fly its first commercial mission in "late June."

☆ Mothers may know best when it comes to money
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

For Mother's Day, we asked a few business leaders about the best money advice they ever got from their moms. Founder & chief investment officer, Ariel Investments"My mom was Deputy Solicitor General, and was a pioneer in serving on corporate boards. "When I started Ariel in 1983, when I was 24, my mom gave me whatever liquid cash she had. We can't always control how much money we make, but we can control maximizing the value of the things we already have." "The best financial advice my mom gave me was to be financially minded at a young age.

☆ Virgin Galactic quarterly loss widens while company preps for spaceflight return
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Virgin Galactic is aiming to fly its first spaceflight in nearly two years later this month, but the company's first quarter loss widened dramatically as it funds its fleet growth. Virgin Galactic cited "increases in research and development expenses," in a press release. It paused launches for a lengthy refurbishment period of its vehicles, with Virgin Galactic aiming to fly its first commercial mission in "late June." The space tourism company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $140 million, compared with a $77 million loss in the same period a year ago. Shares of Virgin Galactic stock slipped more than 1% in after-hours trading, from its close at $4.09 a share.

☆ Here's what went wrong with Virgin Orbit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The deal, facilitated by a so-called blank check company, gave Virgin Orbit a valuation of nearly $4 billion. That debt gives the flashy British billionaire first priority of Virgin Orbit assets in the event of the now-impending bankruptcy. And Chief Strategy Officer Jim Simpson had also spent more than eight years in Boeing's satellite division before joining Virgin Orbit. That frustration continued after the pause, with employees confused by the lack of specifics about which investors were speaking to Virgin Orbit leadership. Virgin Orbit

☆ Virgin Orbit extends unpaid pause as Brown deal collapses, 'dynamic' talks continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Virgin Orbit launches its LauncherOne rocket from the spaceport in Cornwall, marking the first ever orbital launch from the UK. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)Virgin Orbit is again extending its unpaid pause in operations to continue pursuing a lifeline investment, CEO Dan Hart told employees in a company-wide email. But discussions between Virgin Orbit and the Texas-based investor stalled and broke down late last week, a person familiar told CNBC. Virgin Orbit was spun out of Branson's Virgin Galactic in 2017 and counts the billionaire as its largest stakeholder, with 75% ownership. Mubadala, the Emirati sovereign wealth fund, holds the second-largest stake in Virgin Orbit, at 18%.

☆ Investing in Space: The latecomer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. A small group of Virgin Orbit employees are rolling back into the company's Long Beach, California, headquarters today. Virgin Orbit this week announced a partial resumption of operations, potentially bolstered by a surprising new backer: private investor Matthew Brown. A person close to the Virgin Orbit deal described Brown as a "latecomer" and said company leadership initially considered his bid "super fringe." From another investor's perspective, Virgin Orbit was "the most likely to succeed after Rocket Lab " in the small satellite launch market.

☆ Richard Branson says Elon Musk made a surprise visit in the middle of the night with his 2-year-old son hours before his first space flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Richard Branson told The Sunday Times that Elon Musk made a surprise visit to his New Mexico home. A barefoot Musk wanted to wish Branson luck on the flight and brought his 2-year-old son along too. "I think it was about 2:30 a.m.," Branson told The Sunday Times, recalling the morning of July 11, 2022, ahead of his flight to space. "Elon had decided to surprise us" to wish his friend luck on his debut flight, Branson told the newspaper. The SpaceX CEO also went to the launch site to watch the flight and later told Branson: "Congratulations, beautiful flight."

☆ The co-founder of Europe's first Black VC Fund on how he transformed his life, and his plan to help Black founders "build the impossible"
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Fahiemah Al-Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe co-founder of Europe's first Black VC Fund on how he transformed his life, and his plan to help Black founders "build the impossible"Black Seed's Karl Lokko, the co-founder and chairman of Europe's first Black-led for Black-founders venture capital fund, says he's on a mission to find South London's next Black unicorn. The UK native opens up to CNBC in a candid conversation about his transformational journey from gang leader to climbing Mont Blanc with Sir Richard Branson, how mastering the art of 'code-switching' led to access within the tapestry of London society, and why Brixton could become the "Black Silicon Valley."

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