Word: branson
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...Mark, 53, and Christine, 45, are typical of the first group - dubbed The Founders - who have plunked down $200,000 each to fly into space with Galactic, which hopes to begin operations by 2009. (Branson is still taking deposits of $100,000 to $175,000 for travelers who want to go during the first year.) About a dozen of the aspiring astronauts gathered late November on Necker Island, the private island owned by Virgin Galactic's boss, Richard Branson, in the British Virgin Islands. I went expecting to meet a bunch of Richie Rich types just looking for a thrill...
...number of the Founders were struck at how open Branson and the legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan have been, inviting them to Rutan's closed shop out in the Mojave Desert, to the Virgin Galactic launch in New York, and yes, to Branson's private island. "Richard can carry on research until 2012 as far as I'm concerned. It's such fun," says John Goodwin, a 62-year-old retired candy wholesaler from England, who talked while his fellow travelers played tennis in the rain. Goodwin had visited Rutan's workshop. "There he is, answering your questions...
...Today, it's one in several million. He's not going to fly until he's sure today's spaceships are as safe as early planes, he says. "This isn't something for crazy avant-garde adventurers. This is not an Everest climb. I don't think Richard Branson would be comfortable thinking this is a long shot because he is already selling tickets...
...understand why the chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways would be interested in an orbital passenger jet. But why invest in what now looks like the world's most expensive amusement-park ride? "I hope that people going into space will come back and appreciate this beautiful world more," says Branson, turning philosophical about man's future on Earth. You almost believe him until he flashes that grin and adds, "If worst comes to worst, the Virgin Moon sounds pretty good. We'll colonize it!" Then Branson walks off the beach at Necker, shouting, "King Richard of the Moon! Lord Richard...
...only public start-up of the group, Silverjet, splits élitism and efficiency down the middle. It's not every day that you see the CEO of an airline collecting trash and empty champagne glasses. But Lawrence Hunt, 40, is a Richard Branson-- style British maverick who rolls up his sleeves, raises $55 million in capital and takes flight with 100 business-class seats on a 767 just eight months later; most start-ups take two years. Hunt expects to break even in six to eight months and will soon add a second and a third plane. Silverjet looks...