Word: neckers
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...depths of the oceans. So we're in the process of building something called Virgin Aquatic, which is going to be submarines to go 35,000 feet underwater. The oceans need exploring - we know nothing about what's going on under 25,000 feet. I have an island called Necker Island and 15 miles from there is the deepest place in the whole of the Atlantic, the Puerto Rican Trench. It's quite likely that we'll set up a scientific and exploration center on Necker to send out expeditions to explore that trench and other trenches in the world...
...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 ride. Instead, I found a group of hardy pioneers, millionaires sure, but idealists who dreamed as kids...
...Necker Island, Branson gathered some of the Founders to meet Rutan and chat about spaceship design, safety issues and preparation possibilities for the G-forces and sensory overload of a first-time astronaut--like how to puke in space. They debated who would be the first paying customers. The hedge-fund honcho from California? The Internet couple from England? The hot German babe in the bikini? Or the guy from New Zealand who changed his family name to Rocket? Physicist Stephen Hawking, who believes that mankind must colonize space, sent word that he wants in--which would allow...
...Rutan, who also points to similarities with the early computer industry, which evolved from the Army's need to improve its ballistics calculations. He and Branson have 100 engineers looking at new technology for both orbital and suborbital flights as well as lunar flybys in a "glass bubble." On Necker, the two men pored over ideas for a plane that would fly orbitally, cutting flying time between New York City and London to 20 min. once in orbit...
...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 of the Galactic!" I swear, he means...