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☆ Virgin Galactic says an alignment pin detached from space plane on latest tourism flight
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Virgin Galactic is grounded after the company said a small part unintentionally detached from the mothership of its rocket-powered space plane on its latest space tourism flight. The flight, called Galactic 06, launched on January 26 and marked Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism mission of the year after entering commercial service in 2023. The company discovered the part loss during routine checks and notified government regulators on January 31, “in accordance with regulations,” Virgin Galactic said in a statement. Virgin Galactic said it will work alongside the Federal Aviation Administration, which licenses commercial rocket launches, on a review of the issue. “Virgin Galactic flights occur in restricted airspace and at specific geographical launch locations that control the hazards to people or structures on the ground,” Virgin Galactic’s statement reads.

Persons: ”, . Virgin Galactic, “, Virgin Galactic Organizations: CNN, Virgin, Galactic, . Virgin, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Virgin Galactic

☆ Virgin Galactic: Richard Branson won’t invest more money in the space tourism company he founded
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Shares of Virgin Galactic, the space tourism venture founded by Richard Branson, are plunging after the British billionaire said he has no plans to invest more money in the company as he says it has “sufficient funds” already. ET market open on Monday, Virgin Galactic stock was down 16%, trading at less than $2 per share. Virgin Galactic has had a landmark year, flying its first customers to the edge of space after years of waiting. Branson had previously sold off a large chunk of his personal investment in Virgin Galactic, ditching about $1 billion worth of stock between 2020 and 2021. Branson added in his comments to the Financial Times that he remains excited about Virgin Galactic and noted the company has “really proved itself and the technology.”

Persons: Richard Branson, Branson, hasn’t, ”, Virgin Galactic’s, Michael Colglazier’s Organizations: CNN —, Virgin Galactic, Financial Times, — Virgin, Galactic, Times, Virgin, Virgin Group, Virgin Galactic’s, VSS Unity, VSS Locations: Virgin

☆ Virgin Galactic's first space tourism passengers only spent a few minutes floating weightless above the Earth, and their experience still mirrored other astronauts' in 3 key ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The three passengers onboard spent a few minutes floating weightless at the edge of space. These are the first commercial passengers to fly aboard Virgin Galactic's first private commercial spaceflight. Virgin Galactic's mothership Eve taking its first space tourists on a rocket ship ride to the edge of space. Jon Goodwin, one of Virgin Galactic's space tourists, recalled feeling this way as the VSS Unity began its return to Earth. Virgin Galactic Feeling like sharingKeisha Schahaff, Mayers' mother and one of Virgin Galactic's space passengers, said that flying had always been her dream.

Persons: Virgin Galactic's, Anastatia Mayers, Mayers, Yuri Gagarin, Andrés Leighton, Jon Goodwin, would've, Goodwin, Charlie Duke, Keisha Schahaff Organizations: Virgin Galactic, Service, Virgin, VSS, Washington Post, VSS Unity, Apollo, Post Locations: Wall, Silicon, Virgin

☆ Virgin Galactic's first space tourism passengers only spent a few minutes floating weightless above the Earth, and their experience still mirrored other astronauts' in three key ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

☆ Virgin Galactic to launch first tourism mission after decades of promises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Jackie Wattles | Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Virgin Galactic — the space tourism company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson — is finally prepared to launch its first space tourists to the edge of the cosmos, a major step toward delivering on decades of promises. Meet the crewThis mission comes on the heels of the success of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial mission, which launched in June. Goodwin was one of the earliest ticket holders on Virgin Galactic, which opened its first sales more than a decade ago. Virgin Galactic has sold about 800 tickets, including 600 at prices up to $250,000 and another couple hundred at $450,000 per ticket. In the lead-up to 2023, Virgin Galactic had been undergoing a lengthy “enhancement” process to upgrade its flight hardware.

Persons: Richard Branson —, Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers, Jon Goodwin, Goodwin, Virgin Galactic’s, Jeff Bezos, Galactic Schahaff, Mayers, “, ” Schahaff, Oliver Daemen, Bezos, don’t, ”, John McFall, What’s, Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic, Colglazier Organizations: CNN, Virgin Galactic, VSS Unity, Virgin, VSS, Galactic, Space, Humanity, University of Aberdeen, Blue, European Space Agency Locations: British, New Mexico, Antigua, American, Caribbean, Scotland

☆ Virgin Galactic launches civilian tourists into space
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Jeff Morganteen | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailVirgin Galactic launches civilian tourists into spaceVirgin Galactic just launched its second commercial space flight. Onboard the flight are three civilian passengers, Jon Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff and Anastasia Mayers. The mission is part of Virgin Galactic's larger commercial effort to bring tourism to the cosmos.

Persons: Jon Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff, Anastasia Mayers Organizations: Virgin Galactic, Virgin

☆ A Virgin Galactic passenger joked that he will have to wear diapers on Thursday's mission because the spaceship doesn't have toilets
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old Olympian, joked about the conditions on his upcoming Virgin Galactic flight. Virgin Galactic said its first flight bringing paying tourists to space will take off Thursday. Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old British Olympian, is due to be one of three private passengers on board Virgin Galactic's first-ever private commercial flight, which is expected to launch on Thursday. The interior of Virgin Galactic's spaceship, the VSS Unity, is quite sparse, according to photos shared by the company. Virgin Galactic's private commercial flight has been long awaited, with more than 800 people having purchased the firm's tickets.

Persons: Jon Goodwin, Virgin, Virgin Galactic's, Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers, it's Organizations: Virgin Galactic, Service, Virgin, Sky News, NASA, VSS, . Virgin Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Amazon, Coinbase, Generac, Wayfair, Disney & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Morgan Stanley reiterates Apple as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on Apple after its earnings report Thursday. Rosenblatt downgrades Apple to neutral from buy Rosenblatt said Apple is sitting in a "slowdown phase." Citi upgrades Intercontinental Exchange to buy from neutral Citi said it sees "improving signals across the platform" for the exchange company. Citi opens a positive catalyst watch on Apple Citi said it sees upside ahead of the company's new iPhone unveil in September. Citi reiterates Disney as buy Citi said it's sticking with its buy rating on stock heading into earnings next week. "

Persons: Stephens, it's, Morgan Stanley, Apple, tonight's, Rosenblatt, Raymond James, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Oppenheimer, Tim Horton's, TD Cowen, Read, Truist, Lamb Weston, Stifel, Evercore Organizations: bil, Bank of America, AWS, underperform Bank of America, Apple, AMD, Citi, Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, Galactic, Virgin Galactic, Brands, Restaurant Brands, SSS, TH, BK, TD Cowen downgrades Moderna, Apple Citi, Disney, JPMorgan, Petrobras, Petrobras –, PayPal Locations: Coinbase, Burger, F1Q23

☆ Meet the crew of Virgin Galactic’s first private passenger spaceflight
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The first Olympian and the first mother-daughter duo to venture to space will be aboard Virgin Galactic’s inaugural private astronaut mission in August. Virgin Galactic and commercial spaceflightThe flight window opens for the mission, dubbed Galactic 02, on August 10, and the launch will stream live on Virgin Galactic’s website. The announcement comes on the heels of the successful launch and landing of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial spaceflight on June 29. The passengers boarded the VSS Unity, attached to a massive aircraft called VMS Eve, at Virgin Galactic’s spaceport in New Mexico. VMS Eve took off like an airplane, delivering VSS Unity to a designated altitude.

Persons: Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers, ” Schahaff, Jon Goodwin, Goodwin, Parkinson’s, ” Goodwin, don’t, Beth Moses, Moses Organizations: CNN, Virgin Galactic’s, Space, Humanity, . Virgin Galactic, University of Aberdeen, Virgin Galactic, Virgin, Italian Air Force, VSS, VSS Unity Locations: Caribbean, Antigua, Scotland, New Mexico

The flight, dubbed Galactic 01, comes two years after Branson himself rode along with five other Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc (SPCE.N) personnel for the company's first fully crewed test spaceflight of its rocket plane, VSS Unity. Back then, Virgin Galactic officials said they expected to begin regular commercial operations in 2022 following additional test flights. Virgin Galactic had projected booking its first 1,000 paying customers, charging about $250,000 per seat, by the time commercial service opened. An earlier prototype of Virgin Galactic's rocket plane crashed during a test flight over California's Mojave Desert in 2014, killing one pilot and seriously injuring another. Billionaire rival Jeff Bezos, whose astro-tourist venture Blue Origin has already flown several commercial passenger flights, has disparaged Virgin Galactic as falling short of a true spaceflight experience.

Persons: Richard Branson, Joe Skipper, Branson, Walter Villadei, Angelo Landolfi, Pantaleone, Colin Bennett, Michael Masucci, Nicola Pecile, Branson's, Jeff Bezos, Virgin, Shepard rocketship, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Steve Gorman, Will Dunham Organizations: Virgin, Unity, REUTERS, Virgin Galactic, National Research Council, Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc, VSS, Galactic, SpaceX, Origin, Italian Air Force, International Space, Air Force, . Air Force, America, Corporate, NASA, U.S . Air Force, Thomson Locations: New Mexico, U.S, Italy, Mexico, Italian, Branson, Bezos, Los Angeles

☆ Virgin Galactic raises $300 million, seeks another $400 million to expand spacecraft fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Carrier aircraft VMS Eve releases spacecraft VSS Unity before firing its rocket engine during the Unity 25 spaceflight on May 25, 2023. Virgin Galactic has successfully raised $300 million via an "at the market" offering of common stock, the company disclosed in a securities filing Thursday. Shares of Virgin Galactic have rallied since the company announced plans to launch its first commercial spaceflight by the end of this month. Virgin Galactic had cash and securities totaling $874 million at the end of the first quarter, it reported in May. The company has a single carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, and one spacecraft, VSS Unity, which it has said can conduct flights as frequently as once a month.

Organizations: Carrier, VSS, Virgin Galactic, Galactic, VSS Unity, Delta

☆ Virgin Galactic plans first commercial space service for June; shares take off
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 15 (Reuters) - Virgin Galactic Holdings (SPCE.N), the space tourism firm founded by Richard Branson, said on Thursday its long-awaited commercial spaceflight service would launch later this month, sending its shares up over 55% in trading after the bell. The first spaceflight, called "Galactic 01", is planned between June 27 and June 30, the company said. Shares of Virgin Galactic had lost over two-thirds of their value last year due to delays in the company's launch of commercial service. But in February, it said it had completed a lengthy upgrade period for its centerpiece tourist spacecraft, clearing the path for its first commercial spaceflight. The first commercial mission will carry three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to conduct microgravity research, Virgin Galactic said.

Persons: Richard Branson, Chavi Mehta, Pooja Desai, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Virgin Galactic Holdings, Virgin Galactic, VSS Unity, Italian Air Force, National Research Council, Thomson Locations: Italy, Bengaluru

☆ Virgin Galactic surges 47% as Richard Branson's space tourism company preps first commercial flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of Virgin Galactic soared on Friday on news the company was readying commercial flights. After years of delays, the first flight will take place on June 27, with another scheduled for August. The stock spiked 47% Friday, but is still trading far below highs reached in 2021. Billionaire Richard Branson's space company announced that the first flight, dubbed Galactic 01, is scheduled between June 27 and June 30. Virgin Galactic is trading far below highs reached in 2021, when the stock was trading at nearly $60 per share.

Persons: —, Richard Branson's, Branson, Virgin Galactic's Organizations: Virgin Galactic, Service, Wall Street, Galactic, Virgin Locations: Thursday's

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Don’t fight the Fed? What Fed?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Markets liked the pauseU.S. markets rallied Thursday as traders digested the Federal Reserve's rate pause — and seemed to decide it was a good thing. But traders in Europe didn't like the ECB's rate hike, resulting in a 0.13% drop in the pan-European Stoxx 600 index. Either the Fed's lying about rates or economic data's lying about a recession.

Persons: Richard Branson, Trade Bell, Coinbase, Kevin Scott, it's, CNBC's Bob Pisani Organizations: of Virgin Galactic, Trade, New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, ECB, European Central Bank, Markets, BlackRock, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Microsoft, Federal Reserve Locations: New York City, Europe

☆ Virgin Galactic launches high-stakes flight carrying passengers to the edge of space
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The space plane is designed to then detach from the mothership, fire its rocket engine and swoop straight up with its two pilots at the controls. Virgin Galactic confirmed just before 12:30 p.m. The space plane then coasted back to a landing back at New Mexico’s Spaceport America. The SpaceShipOne technology was parlayed into a larger space plane design, called SpaceShipTwo, which Virgin Galactic still flies today. Virgin Orbit, a sister company to Virgin Galactic that is focused on launching satellites to space on a small rocket, filed for bankruptcy in April.

☆ 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."

☆ 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.

☆ Virgin Orbit raising $200 million from investor Matthew Brown, closing deal as soon as Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Virgin Orbit is in final talks to raise funds from Texas-based investor Matthew Brown, two people familiar with the deal told CNBC, amounting to an injection of $200 million. The deal comes as Virgin Orbit scrambles to rebuild its cash coffers and avoid a potential bankruptcy filing, CNBC earlier reported. Virgin Orbit did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. Shares of Virgin Orbit surged 50% in early trading Wednesday from the stock's previous close of 44 cents a share. Virgin Orbit has been looking for new funds for several months, with majority owner Richard Branson unwilling to fund the company further.

☆ Virgin Galactic completes lengthy upgrade process ahead of resuming spaceflights
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view of carrier aircraft VMS Eve, left, and spacecraft VSS Unity, at Spaceport America in New Mexico on Feb. 27, 2023. Virgin Galactic said on Tuesday it remains on track to resume spaceflights in the coming months after completing upgrades to its carrier aircraft and spacecraft. During that period Virgin Galactic conducted a variety of repairs and enhancements to its jet-powered mothership, called VMS Eve. Then Virgin Galactic will conduct glide tests, where VMS Eve carries the spacecraft and releases it, before a test spaceflight with a full company crew onboard. Shares of Virgin Galactic are up about 65% this year as of Tuesday's close of $5.74 per share.

☆ 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."

☆ Virgin Galactic CEO outlines remaining steps before commercial spaceflight service begins next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Virgin Galactic on Thursday reported a wider third-quarter loss from a year ago, with CEO Michael Colglazier outlining the remaining steps before the space tourism company aims to launch its long-delayed service next year. "As we approach commercial service, we recognize the significance of getting back to the business of spaceflight," Colglazier said on a conference call. Shares of Virgin Galactic are down 66% this year as of Thursday's close of $4.58. Virgin Galactic is emphasizing the potential of its "Delta-class" series of spacecraft, with work set to begin next year. "We are reassessing its schedule for entering commercial service," Colglazier said.

☆ The stock market crash is exposing Wall Street's biggest charlatans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

In a market bubble, it's easy to confuse opportunity for genius. While many of these new investors invested wisely, a pack of them got swept up in a social-media-driven market mania. For the past decade-plus, the stock market loved this. It's really never a good sign when you see celebrities hanging around the stock market, and during the bubble they were everywhere, pumping crypto and investing in SPACs. Good information about the stock market does not come easy, and Gordon Gekko was right to say that if you want a friend on Wall Street, you should buy a dog.

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