News
Danielle Sinay
Jul 20, 2021
AP
Average Earthlings may run marathons for some light-hearted excitement, but billionaire men take competitive racing to a whole other level — or shall we say, ozone layer. Indeed, three billionaires are seemingly partaking in a rich-man space sprint. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson took the lead – but Jeff Bezos was hot on his heels and launched to the edge of space today,
Branson departed Earth earlier this month, just twelve days before fellow billionaire and space enthusiast Bezos scheduled his own extraterrestrial excursion.
Bezos, who is currently the richest person on Planet Earth, announced his plans to travel to space in an Instagram post shared May 5. He and his brother would fly in the New Shepard rocket, produced by Blue Venture, the space-travel business venture Bezos founded in 2000.
Almost instantly, there was a petition launched demanding Bezos not return to Earth.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the third richest person in the world (but sometimes second, depending on when you look), plans to send an “all-civilian” crew to space via the end of 2021 via his space technology company, SpaceX, founded in 2002. SpaceX has already launched NASA astronauts into space, but Musk himself has yet to embark on an expedition himself.
Liftoff! https://t.co/0icqQUWNSH— SpaceX (@SpaceX) 1625081507
Which brings us to Branson, the 547th richest person on Earth (still worth a whopping $5.6 billion, not particularly small potatoes), who took the lead over both Bezos and Musk in their long-awaited quests to leave the planet. On July 1, Branson announced that he would actually be the first to to partake in interplanetary travel— via his own Virgin Galactic, which the entrepreneur founded in 2004 (and, spoiler, he did).
I’ve always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars. On July 11, it’s time to… https://t.co/BxYd4EetIa— Richard Branson (@Richard Branson) 1625179098
So, what’s driving the billionaires to leave Planet Earth? Should we be… worried?
Probably, but also, it seems they just so happened to both be young boys when the Apollo 11 landed on the moon – both Branson and Bezos have specifically credited the event for inspiring them to someday pursue extraterrestrial travel.
“I got infected by that,” Bezos told CBS News. “You don’t chase your passions, they chase you. So I’ve been dreaming and getting ready for this for a long time.” Branson said the same via The Today Show, during which he also insisted he’s not racing Bezos into space.
“I know nobody will believe me when I say it, but honestly, there isn’t [competition],” he said.
With all this travelling to space happening before our eyes, we set out to investigate: How do the billionaire space tourism ventures compare?
When do passenger flights begin?
All three companies have plans to offer “space tourism” to “regular civilians.”
Blue Origin
On July 20th, #NewShepard will fly its first astronaut crew to space. We are offering one seat on this first flight… https://t.co/lBNyvIlN8a— Blue Origin (@Blue Origin) 1620230511
Blue Origin accepted bids for a seat on its first passenger launch, upon which Bezos also had a spot. Ultimately, the ticket to ride aboard the New Shepard was auctioned off to the highest bidder, although that mystery passenger was later replaced by 18-year-old physics student Oliver Daeman, due to a conflicting schedule. This first flight took off on July 20, 2021.
Virgin Galactic
Something spectacular is coming to the skies in ONE WEEK. Join us LIVE for #Unity22 - Virgin Galactic’s first fully… https://t.co/XJNpzaG5XO— Virgin Galactic (@Virgin Galactic) 1625428310
TODAY confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially approved Virgin Galactic for commercial passenger flights, which are set to start in 2022.
SpaceX
Liftoff! https://t.co/0icqQUWNSH— SpaceX (@SpaceX) 1625081507
SpaceX is the first to announce a set time-frame for their full civilian flights, the first of which falls in “late 2021,” though some publications, like Space.com, specifically report September. This flight, funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, will raise money for St. Jude’s Childrens’ Research Hospital.
The following SpaceX passenger flight is scheduled for 2022, and will be organised by Axiom Space.
How much do flights cost?
Blue Origin
Come away changed. Bid for the very first seat on #NewShepard at https://t.co/7Y4TherpLr https://t.co/nmAdYLv2zG— Blue Origin (@Blue Origin) 1622646046
A fourth mystery passenger on Bezos’ July 20 flight paid $28 million to secure their seat abroad the New Shepard ship.
Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic has sold tickets to about 600 passengers for $200,000 and $250,000 each, though they expect prices will substantially increase for its first commercial flights.
SpaceX
NASA and Houston-based Axiom Space have signed a “mission order” setting the stage for four civilians to visit to t… https://t.co/1ocCeIKVEo— Spaceflight Now (@Spaceflight Now) 1620731798
Axiom Space, who is organising the 2022 passenger trip via SpaceX, sold tickets for a ten day stay on an orbiting outpost for $55 million a day.
How far do they go?
Blue Origin
Quite a view today 🌎. https://t.co/boUIfJXjCa— Blue Origin (@Blue Origin) 1618437082
Blue Origin launched its New Shepard rocket from off the ground. Its capsule was expected to reach an altitude of about 66 miles, or 106 kilometres, which is considered the “edge” of space.
Virgin Galactic
Full Commercial Launch license ✅ Our recent #Unity21 spaceflight performed well against all flight objectives and… https://t.co/UtCyHgz16D— Virgin Galactic (@Virgin Galactic) 1624618414
Virgin Galactic’s ship launched from an aircraft mothership (named after Branson’s own mother, Eve) and soared to 55 miles, or 88 kilometres, above sea level. This, too, is considered just under the “edge” of space — as space officially is considered to begin at 60 feet in the air.
SpaceX
Watch Falcon 9 launch 88 spacecraft to orbit → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK https://t.co/y3JRM5cDd3— SpaceX (@SpaceX) 1625080777
SpaceX passengers are launched significantly further into space, as its capsules — of both crew and cargo — actually orbit around Earth, as opposed to remaining on the periphery of outer-space. Per the SpaceX website, their Mission Earth Orbit allows you to “experience the blue planet from over 300km up” (186 miles).
Who’s on board?
Blue Origin
Bezos inviting Wally Funk as his honoured guest.AP
Blue Venture’s first passenger flight will carried Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old physics student Oliver Daeman and 82-year-old aviator Wally Funk. Funk was the youngest graduate of the Woman in Space Program, during which she was successfully underwent the same tests required of the Project Mercury astronauts. Unfortunately, she never got a chance to go to space due to her gender — until now, that is.
SpaceX
Altitude chamber training: ✅ Thanks to @DukeHealth for hosting our #Inspiration4 crew and the @SpaceX team at the… https://t.co/DlfILaUQe8— Inspiration4 (@Inspiration4) 1625269296
The SpaceX flight set to take off in late 2021 is raising money for St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Therefore, it felt appropriate for the flight’s funder, Jared Isaacman, to invite Hayley Arceneux, a 29-year-old St. Jude’s physician’s assistant who was also treated at St. Jude’s as a child, as one of his passengers.
Two more lucky winners were awarded seats in March 2021: Sian Proctor, a community college educator and Chris Sembroski, a former Air Force missile man.
Virgin Galactic
The Virgin Galactic crew.Photo Credit: RichardBranson/Twitter.
Virgin Galactic’s first flight carried Richard Branson, two pilots, and three Virgin Galactic employees: Beth Moses, Chief Astronaut Instructor, Colin Bennett, Lead Operations Engineer, and and Sirisha Bandl, Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations. The pilots were Dave Mackay, British Chief Pilot of Virgin Galactic and former RAF test pilot, and Michael Masucci, a former U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel.
Who’s got the best uniforms?
Blue Origin
Photo Credit: Blue Origin/YouTube
The mock-up illustration provided by Blue Origin show the uniforms as dark blue body suits that read “Blue Origin” on the back.
Virgin Galactic
AFP via Getty Images
Virgin Galactic’s stylish blue suits were created in collaboration with athleisure-wear company Under Armour. Per TechCrunch, the suits were created with “input” from doctors, pilots, clothing designers and astronaut trainers, and tested in labs to ensure the garments would hold up in space.
Under Armour CEO drew parallels to Star Trek when discussing the suits, though to be honest, these suits really just resemble a standard Under Armour sweatsuit — something one could wear while grocery shopping, or working from home. They’re a bit heavy for that, though: The suit weighs 10 pounds (still 10 pounds lighter than previous designs). Plus, the gloves work on touch-screens. Over all, impressively chic suits, just not what one expects when they think “space travel.”
SpaceX
Getty Images
The SpaceX are likely the most star-studded of all seeing as Musk quite literally tapped a Hollywood costume designer to assist in their creation. Jose Fernandez, a costume designer for Batman v Superman, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, and X-Men II assisted in bringing Musk’s vision to live, so there is certainly a cinematic — and superhero-like — quality to the impressive apparel.
Another week of training wrapped up @SpaceX for the @inspiration4x crew. We all got suited up 👍 Lots of academics,… https://t.co/3br42VdNeQ— Jared Isaacman (@Jared Isaacman) 1624327846
“I personally spent a lot of time — it took us three, almost four years to design these suits that both look good and work well,” Musk said of the suits during NASA’s live coverage of a launch attempt in May 2021. Fernandez also spoke with Bleep magazine about Musk’s vision for the suits. “When people put this spacesuit on, he wants them to look better than they did without it, like a tux…You look heroic in it.”
The classic “astronaut” looking suits (in the sense that they’re white with black boots) are sleek, modern, and well, resemble a Tesla in human-suit form. But also, have slight Storm Trooper vibes. Sorry!
Whick rocket is coolest?
All phallic jokes aside, here’s how the billionaires’ rockets compare.
Blue Origin
Photo Credit: Blue Origin/Youtube
Blue Origin took off in the “New Shepard” rocket, named after Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard. It looks like a rocket should: A round capsule sitting atop long, white, and tubular shaft — the launching vehicle.
Per the Blue Origin website, this “reusable suborbital rocket system” is “designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space” in just 11 minutes.
The capsule, which holds up to six space travellers, is allegedly home to the “largest windows to have flown in space.” What’s more, there are no pilots, as the vehicle is completely autonomous. “Every person onboard is a passenger-there are no pilots,” the site says. This reminds us of science fiction horror films past, but alas.
Virgin Galactic
Photo Credit: The TODAY Show
Branson and his crew took off in sleek ship “Unity,” which launched from a mothership named after Branson’s own mother, “Eve.”
Unity is carried up into the sky by Eve, then dropped from the bottom of her wing going 3 and a half thousand miles per hour, officially taking off for space from there.
Unity looks significantly less phallic than the New Shepard, and looks a bit more like an especially high-tech private jet, which makes sense, considering Branson’s relationship with Virgin Airlines. Whatever the case, Branson is quite pleased with the design. “I always envisioned as a kid that a spaceship should look like this,” he said on The TODAY Show. “I just thought, that’s how you should fly to space.”
SpaceX
The Inspiration4 crew has arrived in California for another week of training at @SpaceX’s headquarters. Stay tuned… https://t.co/hdKeD1uuB9— Inspiration4 (@Inspiration4) 1623686822
The SpaceX passenger flight scheduled for departure in 2021 will take off in the Falcon 9 rocket, which according to SpaceX, is “the first orbital class rocket capable of reflight.” Per the SpaceX site, “reusability allows SpaceX to rely the most expensive parts of the rocket which in turn drives down the cost of space access.”
Like the New Shepard, the Falcon 9 is also long, and mostly white — but this one is so long and thin it almost resembles a flute — one that measures 229 feet, or 70 metres.
The Falcon 9 is our personal favourite rocket, and preferred method of space travel, if we had to choose — mainly because it’s already flown back and forth successfully — and orbited Planet Earth.
Thus far, the Falcon 9 has already been launched 122 times and landed 82. We won’t ask what happened the other 40 instances.
Bon voyage, billionaires!
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