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TOPIC: Virgin Galactic
Blobrana


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Virgin Galactic
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There is one scene in Fight Club where the narrator says, "When deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything-the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks." While Planet Starbucks is still a dream, commercial space travel became one small step (for man) closer to reality last week as Virgin Galactic released plans to take travellers into space by 2010 for the bargain price of $200,000 US a seat. Unlike land-based rockets, the Virgin system is powered by carrier jets which lift the rocket before it takes off under it's own power. Rather than research leading exploration and commercial enterprise following in its wake, it looks as if the private sector will become the leader in space development and that government-funded research will be a poor second.

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Blobrana


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Lossiemouth
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The North-east will miss out on an "astronomical" opportunity if the Executive does not back the Lossiemouth space tourism bid.
Futurologist Professor Ian Yeoman told the Evening Express plans by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic to launch space day trips from the RAF base in Moray would transform the North-east's profile.
Currently it is the leading contender for a UK home to space tourism, although there is a rival bid in Cornwall.

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Blobrana


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RE: Virgin Galactic
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For those whove dreamed of being astronauts, theres good news. A Valley travel agent is selling tickets to the final frontier. Out of this world? Absolutely. So is the price. A flight costs $200,000.
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Blobrana


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Lossiemouth
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Lossiemouth, we have lift-off. Space tourism - including a plan by Sir Richard Branson to launch commercial rockets from Scotland - should be encouraged by the government, according to a group of MPs.
The House of Commons science and technology select committee says important projects should be supported by ministers rather than left to enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.
It also warns that there must be a coherent strategy on space exploration, including space tourism, if Britain is not to be left behind by other countries - and says Britain should consider its own manned space exploration in future.
The call means that, within a decade, Cape Lossiemouth could rival Cape Canaveral as a launch centre, and Scotland could be hosting international visitors eager for the ultimate tourism experience. The spin-off would be the creation of hundreds of well-paid jobs and the attraction of investment in the "knowledge economy".
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Blobrana


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Australia's first female astronaut
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A Brisbane businesswoman has shelled out more than $240,000 to become Australia's first female astronaut.
Glenys Ambe, of New Farm, has bought a ticket on Richard Branson's VirginGalactic flights - a commercial space flight operation that will take off in 2009.
So far, she is one of just five Australians to have secured a seat on the journey into space.

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Blobrana


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RE: Virgin Galactic
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Virgin Galactic, the company thats working with physicist Stephen Hawking to get him into space someday, hails his better-than-expected zero-gravity flight as a significant step toward his goal.

Weve still got a lot of work to do with Stephen, but this can only be good news - Stephen Attenborough, Virgin Galactics vice president of astronaut relations.

As he discussed the next steps for Dr. Hawking's outer-space quest, Attenborough also touched upon the milestones ahead for Virgin's other would-be space fliers.

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Blobrana


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New Mexico spaceport
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Spaceport Victory: Tax Increase for Dona Ana Residents
Possibly the most debatable elections in Dona Ana County draws closer to a end.  But, even before all the votes are counted, supporters of the Southern New Mexico Spaceport are declaring victory.
More than 400 provisional ballots were hand counted.  Each one widening the gap of opposing and in favour votes for a tax increase that will fund the controversial spaceport.  Supporters breathed a sigh of relief after the number of supporting votes hit 249 more than those opposed.  When supporters realized the number of ballots left to be counted were less than the number to overcome those in favour the victory dance began.

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Blobrana


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A roads funding bill approved last week included $10 million for construction of a spaceport road.
The money was less than Gov. Bill Richardson's request of $25 million for the project, but enough to start spaceport construction when the time comes, said state economic development Secretary Rick Homans, also chairman of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.

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Blobrana


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Virgin Galactic
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In 2015, the Gleneagles Lunar Space Station could be the world's - or make that the Solar System's - most exclusive resort.
Catching the Virgin Galactic from Auchterarder, the trans-stratosphere tourists will gaze down on their home for planet Earth's most spectacular view.
During their stay at the Gleneagles Space Station, tourists will take in a round of golf, take the lunar buggy out for a spin and float around the leisure complex. They'll enjoy the best of Scottish cuisine - vacuum packed, of course.
Dr Ian Yeoman, VisitScotland's futurologist, says this may sound far fetched but it is not beyond possibility.

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Blobrana


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NASA officials signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with the U.S. company, Virgin Galactic, LLC, to explore the potential for collaborations on the development of space suits, heat shields for spaceships, hybrid rocket motors and hypersonic vehicles capable of travelling five or more times the speed of sound.
Under the terms of the memorandum, NASA Ames Research Centre, located in California's Silicon Valley, and Virgin Galactic LLC, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, will explore possible collaborations in several technical areas employing capabilities and facilities of NASA's Ames Research Centre.

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