Richard Branson — the bold British billionaire and dashing daredevil who grew rich off a record company and an airliner and crossed the Pacific in a hot-air balloon — almost gave up on the final frontier.
Branson, in uncharacteristic despair, admitted he considered abandoning his dreams of launching passenger space flights after the Oct. 31 crash of his suborbital rocket plane that killed the co-pilot and injured the pilot,
NBC News reported.
But the team behind his Virgin Galactic venture in California’s Mojave Desert encouraged him to press on. Even astronauts at the International Space Station sent messages of encouragement.
“As I travelled from my home to Mojave that Friday evening, I found myself questioning seriously for the first time, whether in fact it was right to be backing the development of something that could result in such tragic circumstances. In short – was Virgin Galactic and everything it has stood for and dreamt of achieving, really worth it?” he wrote in a
New Year’s blog post.
“I got a very firm answer to that question immediately when I landed in Mojave. From the designers, the builders, the engineers, the pilots and the whole community who passionately believed — and still believe — that truly opening space and making it accessible and safe is of vital importance to all our futures.”
Branson said he got the same “heartfelt message” from mourners at a memorial service for co-pilot Mike Alsbury and “even beyond the world, from the astronauts on the International Space Station.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash that killed Alsbury and injured pilot Pete Siebold, who ejected from the plane,
The Wall Street Journal reported.
“When this story is told in years to come, I believe alongside the bravery of Mike and the incredible tale of Pete’s survival, will stand the story of the commitment, loyalty and passion of the world’s first private astronauts,” Branson said in his blog post.
“And so Virgin Galactic goes on, with an unwavering commitment to safety and a renewed sense of purpose. Thanks to everyone who has supported Virgin Galactic in 2014 and here’s to the next chapter in 2015.”
About two dozen potential customers have cancelled reservations for the space flights, but more than 700 people who have paid up to $250,000 per seat are still waiting for the inaugural launch of the passenger service.
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