Sir Richard Branson Urges Islands to Transition to Clean Energy as Foundation for Marine Conservation

NECKER ISLAND, British Virgin Islands, May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Saint Lucia signs up for the Carbon War Room’s ‘TenIsland Renewable Challenge’ Saint Lucia announced its intention to move towards a clean energy future by becoming the next pioneering economy to join Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge, today at the Caribbean Conservation Summit held on Necker Island, co-hosted by Sir Richard Branson, the Prime Minister of Grenada, and Premier of the British Virgin Islands. “Solving the energy challenge and marine conservation challenge in theCaribbeango hand-in-hand. I am very pleased thatSaint Luciahas decided to join the Challenge-and hope more neighbouring islands will follow,” said Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Continue reading

Virgin Galactic Craft One Giant Step Closer To Space Flight

Richard Branson’s dream of ferrying paying tourists into space came a step closer last week with the successful completion of a “cold flow” test of its spacecraft. Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two flew high above the Mojave Desert in California as oxidiser – rocket propellant – was pumped through the propulsion system for the first time. Although it was not ignited, it indicates the rocket is ready for the next stage – fully fired up testing. Continue reading

Liberty Global Set to Launch Bid for Virgin Media

John Malone’s Liberty Global is preparing to make a bid for Virgin Media, the UK cable operator with an enterprise value of more than $20 billion, in a deal that would mark the U.S. billionaire’s biggest move yet into the UK and could set up a fresh clash with his former partner and rival Rupert Murdoch Continue reading

Florida wants NASA land for commercial spaceport

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida With an eye toward developing a commercial spaceport, Florida has asked NASA to transfer 150 acres of land north of the shuttle launch pads and the shuttle runway to Space Florida, the state’s aerospace development agency. “Florida believes that the properties identified in this request are excess to the needs of the U.S. Continue reading

A new space race: Companies vie to haul cargo, passengers

Private companies developing spacecraft More than a dozen private companies are developing spacecraft to transport cargo or people to space. Here are few of them: SpaceX: Its seven-seat Dragon capsule in May became the first commercial spacecraft to fly to the International Space Station and return to Earth intact Continue reading

You Too Can Fly Into Space with Richard Branson

At long last, Richard Branson has announced the scheduled departure of the first space flight. Branson will depart sometime in 2013 with his two sons beside him for the much-anticipated flight. And if you've got $200,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can join them for the ride. Continue reading

Kids in space – Branson to take family on SpaceShipTwo’s maiden flight

SpaceShipTwo’s maiden space flight, set for next year, will be a family affair for Richard Branson, with both his children accompanying him on the trip. Branson’s space programme also has more than 500 paid-up passengers waiting in line Continue reading

Branson’s Kids Will Be on Board For First Spaceport Flight

POSTED AT: 11:32 am FARNBOROUGH, England (AP) The first space flight of Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic venture will be a family affair: The billionaire adventurer says he will be joined by his adult children. The British tycoon behind the Virgin business empire that spans cable television, airlines and space tourism revealed that the three will make a 60-mile journey on the SpaceshipTwo (SS2) next year. Continue reading

Branson gets kids on board for first space flight

FARNBOROUGH, England (AP) — The first space flight of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic venture will be a family affair: The billionaire adventurer confirmed Wednesday he will be joined by his two adult children. The British tycoon behind the Virgin business empire that spans cable television, airlines and space tourism revealed that the three will make the journey 62-miles (100 kilometers) above the Earth aboard the SpaceshipTwo (SS2) next year. Some 120 other tourists who have signed up for the $200,000 two-hour trips into space over the coming years were also present at the Farnborough Airshow south of London. Continue reading

Sir Richard Branson keynote speaker at Cayman Alternative Investment Summit

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –The world’s leading institutional investors, CEOs, economists and academics will gather at the world-renowned Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman, November 1-2, 2012 to discuss and debate the crucial ingredients for sustaining a vibrant global alternative investment industry. The key theme of the Summit is ‘Innovation in Alternative Investments: Seeing What’s Next’. One of the keynote speakers is Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group. Continue reading

FAA Launch Permit Gives Virgin Galactic's Space Vehicles the Green Light for Powered Flight

SpaceShipTwo Set to Go for Heavy-Weight Glide Tests with Supersonic Flight Targeted for Year End MOJAVE, Calif. – (May 30, 2012) Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, announced today that its vehicle developer, Scaled Composites (Scaled), has been granted an experimental launch permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its suborbital spacecraft, SpaceshipTwo, and the carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo. Continue reading