rocket-man talks up lift-off as doubters wait for splashdown
Virgin Atlantic Airways chairman Sir Richard Branson appears to have traded in horizontal thinking for the vertical variety.
His airline is proposing to invest US$250 million in five reusable rockets and an Arizona launch pad that will put people into space by 2007. Seven customers at a time will fly for US$200,000 each. Sir Richard reckons that 45,000 people will enter orbit before the rockets have to be replaced.
Virgin Atlantic's new 'Galactic programme' will also allow frequent flyers who have racked up two million miles (equivalent to circling the globe 30 times) to redeem a space ticket for free.
Sir Richard's enthusiasm for the project was met with some scepticism by reporters, with one exchange as follows:
Reporter: 'May I ask you an irreverent question?'