{"id":6430,"date":"2021-07-09T12:57:44","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T12:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1359932"},"modified":"2021-07-09T12:57:44","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T12:57:44","slug":"branson-vs-bezos-whos-got-the-better-space-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=6430","title":{"rendered":"Branson vs. Bezos: Who\u2019s got the better space plan?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Over the next fortnight, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson will take off into space, because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/business\/story\/2021-07-06\/jeff-bezos-richard-branson-elon-musk-space-race\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">they can<\/a>, on spaceships designed by their respective companies.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a big moment for the private space industry. But the question comes to mind: who has the smarter plan?<\/p>\n<h2>A billionaire\u2019s space race<\/h2>\n<p>On May 5 Blue Origin, owned by former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, announced it would fly its first crew of astronauts into space on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/news\/bid-for-the-very-first-seat-on-new-shepard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">July 20<\/a> \u2014 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/apollo\/apollo11.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Apollo 11 Moon landing\u2019s<\/a> 52nd anniversary.<\/p>\n<p>After 15 successful test flights, this will be the first crewed flight for Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard spaceship. One seat will be occupied by an undisclosed winner of a charity auction, who reportedly paid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/news\/the-very-first-seat-on-new-shepard-sells-for-28-million\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">US$28 million<\/a> for the privilege. Two more seats will be taken up by Bezos and his brother Mark.<\/p>\n<p>A fourth seat will go to Wally Funk. The 82-year-old pilot was a promising candidate in the 1960s Mercury 13 women\u2019s astronaut training program but wasn\u2019t able to go to space because of her gender.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1359938 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw.png\" alt=\"Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard capsule. Blue Origin\" width=\"600\" height=\"256\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw-280x119.png 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw-540x230.png 540w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw-270x115.png 270w\"><figcaption>Credit: Blue Origin<\/figcaption><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/branson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fspace%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fbranson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard capsule. Blue Origin\" data-title=\"Share Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard capsule. Blue Origin on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard capsule. Blue Origin on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard capsule. Blue Origin<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1359938\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw.png\" alt=\"Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard capsule. Blue Origin\" width=\"600\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw.png 600w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw-280x119.png 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw-540x230.png 540w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/1file-20210706-15-17q89cw-270x115.png 270w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t long after Bezos announced his plans that Sir Richard Branson also joined in, setting a launch date of July 11 \u2014 nine days before Bezos\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n<p>Branson will travel as part of a six person crew on Virgin Galactic space-plane VSS Unity. It will be the fourth time the VSS Unity, the specific SpaceShipTwo spacecraft, has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virgingalactic.com\/articles\/virgin-galactic-completes-first-human-spaceflight-from-spaceport-america-new-mexico\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">flown to space<\/a>, but the first with a full crew.<\/p>\n<h2>Tailored plans<\/h2>\n<p>Both flights will be short, and based on different definitions of where \u201cspace\u201d begins.<\/p>\n<p>Bezos\u2019s Blue Origin has chosen to define this as the internationally recognized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fai.org\/news\/statement-about-karman-line\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">K\u00e1rm\u00e1n line at 100 kilometers altitude<\/a>. The peak of the New Shepard\u2019s trajectory will be just past this limit.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic has chosen the US Air Force\u2019s definition of space at about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nesdis.noaa.gov\/content\/where-space\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">80km<\/a> altitude. Their SpaceShipTwo generally reaches a peak altitude of around 90km during flight.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard is a fully autonomous rocket (with no pilots) which takes off almost fully vertically from its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/news\/ns-15-mission-to-conduct-astronaut-rehearsal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">launch site in remote West Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It is powered by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/engines\/be-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">BE-3 liquid-fuelled rocket motor<\/a>, which burns for around two and a half minutes until the spacecraft reaches 55km of altitude, at a speed of 900 meters per second. With its almost vertical trajectory, this is enough altitude and momentum to reach space.<\/p>\n<p>Once the rocket motor stops burning, the booster holding the rocket motor and fuel separates from the crew capsule and returns to Earth.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center \" readability=\"2\">\n<p><figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/410076\/original\/file-20210707-27-6tyznt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"New Shepard Booster landing after an uncrewed test flight. Blue Origin\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"js-lazy\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/branson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fspace%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fbranson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: New Shepard Booster landing after an uncrewed test flight. Blue Origin\" data-title=\"Share New Shepard Booster landing after an uncrewed test flight. Blue Origin on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share New Shepard Booster landing after an uncrewed test flight. Blue Origin on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>New Shepard Booster landing after an uncrewed test flight. Blue Origin<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/410076\/original\/file-20210707-27-6tyznt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"New Shepard Booster landing after an uncrewed test flight. Blue Origin\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class><\/noscript><\/figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The whole flight will only last ten minutes, with astronauts experiencing weightlessness near the peak altitude before their capsule re-enters the atmosphere and drifts back down to Earth. Parachutes will help with deceleration.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo space-plane will be carried up to 15km altitude by a carrier aircraft, the WhiteKnightTwo. At this point it will launch itself into space, starting above the thick lower atmosphere.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center \" readability=\"6\">\n<p><figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/409934\/original\/file-20210706-25-1cm3xw7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo shown attached to its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, outside Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world\u2019s first commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"js-lazy\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/branson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fspace%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fbranson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo shown attached to its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, outside Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world\u2019s first commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic\" data-title=\"Share Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo shown attached to its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, outside Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world\u2019s first commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo shown attached to its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, outside Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world\u2019s first commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo shown attached to its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, outside Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world\u2019s first commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/409934\/original\/file-20210706-25-1cm3xw7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo shown attached to its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, outside Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world\u2019s first commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class><\/noscript><\/figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>SpaceShipTwo will detach from WhiteKnightTwo and start its hybrid rocket motor engine which burns for a minute, giving the spaceplane enough momentum to reach its 90km peak altitude.<\/p>\n<p>Similar to the New Shepard, passengers will experience several minutes of weightlessness before re-entering the atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>Due to its low speed upon re-entry, SpaceShipTwo will perform a \u201cfeathered re-entry\u201d, where it will rotate its wings up and use them to keep stable, like a shuttlecock, as it falls down to 15km altitude.<\/p>\n<p>It will then once again become a spaceplane and glide back to the ground under the control of pilots, ready for re-use.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center \" readability=\"2\">\n<p><figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/409938\/original\/file-20210706-19-19g3lz6.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"Virgin Galactic\u2019s planned flight path based on earlier test flights. Virgin Galactic\" width=\"600\" height=\"311\" class=\"js-lazy\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/branson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fspace%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fbranson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Virgin Galactic\u2019s planned flight path based on earlier test flights. Virgin Galactic\" data-title=\"Share Virgin Galactic\u2019s planned flight path based on earlier test flights. Virgin Galactic on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Virgin Galactic\u2019s planned flight path based on earlier test flights. Virgin Galactic on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>Virgin Galactic\u2019s planned flight path based on earlier test flights. Virgin Galactic<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/409938\/original\/file-20210706-19-19g3lz6.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"Virgin Galactic\u2019s planned flight path based on earlier test flights. Virgin Galactic\" width=\"600\" height=\"311\" class><\/noscript><\/figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2>A rocket versus a spaceplane<\/h2>\n<p>There are several differences and similarities in the companies\u2019 approaches.<\/p>\n<p>Both will have short flights, allowing them to make use of suborbital launch trajectories. This means they will achieve the right altitude to reach space, but won\u2019t go into orbit. This approach requires much less fuel than an orbital flight.<\/p>\n<p>Suborbital trajectories also make re-entry significantly slower, so the heavy heat shielding that would be required when returning from orbit won\u2019t be needed. Also, both aim to re-use their spaceships to lower the costs of operation over time.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond that, however, their approaches are quite different.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1359935 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj.jpeg\" alt=\"View from space during one of Blue Origin\u2019s uncrewed New Shepard test flights. Blue Origin\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj-280x158.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj-479x270.jpeg 479w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj-240x135.jpeg 240w\"><figcaption>Credit: Blue Origin<\/figcaption><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/branson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fspace%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fbranson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: View from space during one of Blue Origin\u2019s uncrewed New Shepard test flights. Blue Origin\" data-title=\"Share View from space during one of Blue Origin\u2019s uncrewed New Shepard test flights. Blue Origin on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share View from space during one of Blue Origin\u2019s uncrewed New Shepard test flights. Blue Origin on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>View from space during one of Blue Origin\u2019s uncrewed New Shepard test flights. Blue Origin<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1359935\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj.jpeg\" alt=\"View from space during one of Blue Origin\u2019s uncrewed New Shepard test flights. Blue Origin\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj-280x158.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj-479x270.jpeg 479w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/07\/file-20210707-17-nf71nj-240x135.jpeg 240w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p>Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard is essentially a large \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/research\/f_sounding.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">sounding rocket<\/a>\u201d These are small research rockets that perform suborbital hops so science experiments can be performed during brief trips to space.<\/p>\n<p>It also uses a liquid rocket motor which, while harder to design, is generally safer since it can be throttled during operation (and even shut off if required).<\/p>\n<p>New Shepard, which has performed 15 successful uncrewed test flights, is overall a simple spacecraft. This will likely make it cheaper and safer in the long run.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo is much more advanced. It is launched mid-air and is rocket-powered \u2014 an approach that hasn\u2019t been properly explored since NASA and the US Air Force\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/60th\/x-15\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">X-15 program<\/a> in the 1960s.<\/p>\n<p>For a successful flight, SpaceShipTwo must be launched while being carried by a carrier aircraft, must ignite its rocket motor in the air, stow its wings for re-entry and then un-stow them again to glide home. This complicated procedure has already come unstuck multiple times.<\/p>\n<p>A recent SpaceShipTwo flight was aborted due to a computer malfunction after its rocket motor ignited. It landed safely but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.virgingalactic.com\/articles\/virgin-galactic-update-on-test-flight-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">didn\u2019t reach space<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And in 2014, the accidental activation of the feathered re-entry system during ascent to space led to the destruction of the first SpaceShipTwo model, the VSS Enterprise, tragically killing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/30073-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-crash-pilot-error.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">the co-pilot<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"align-center \" readability=\"5\">\n<p><figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/410077\/original\/file-20210707-15-1wq74kj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"VSS Unity in space during a test flight, with its wings stowed away in preparation for feathered re-entry. This specific model has completed 21 successful test flights, with three reaching space.\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"js-lazy\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/branson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fspace%2F2021%2F07%2F09%2Fbranson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: VSS Unity in space during a test flight, with its wings stowed away in preparation for feathered re-entry. This specific model has completed 21 successful test flights, with three reaching space.\" data-title=\"Share VSS Unity in space during a test flight, with its wings stowed away in preparation for feathered re-entry. This specific model has completed 21 successful test flights, with three reaching space. on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share VSS Unity in space during a test flight, with its wings stowed away in preparation for feathered re-entry. This specific model has completed 21 successful test flights, with three reaching space. on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>VSS Unity in space during a test flight, with its wings stowed away in preparation for feathered re-entry. This specific model has completed 21 successful test flights, with three reaching space.<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/410077\/original\/file-20210707-15-1wq74kj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\" alt=\"VSS Unity in space during a test flight, with its wings stowed away in preparation for feathered re-entry. This specific model has completed 21 successful test flights, with three reaching space.\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class><\/noscript><\/figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2>Diversity versus simplicity<\/h2>\n<p>While the costs of a seat on both spaceships will be eye-watering, only Virgin Atlantic has announced an official price tag: US$250,000 per seat on a SpaceShipTwo flight. It\u2019s expected Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard will be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2019\/blue-origins-ceo-says-first-space-trips-new-shepard-will-cost-hundreds-thousands-dollars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">priced similarly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The simplicity of Blue Origin\u2019s system means it will probably be better equipped to reduce costs over time. But simplicity may also be its downfall. Meanwhile, SpaceShipTwo is a more complex spacecraft with pilots. This could prove more attractive to customers.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/163898\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" class=\"js-lazy\"><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/163898\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" class><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p><figure><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1TVs2lWk_GI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0\" width=\"440\" height=\"260\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">[embedded content]<\/iframe><figcaption><span class=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption\">The rocket-powered ascent to the edge of space during Virgin Galactic\u2019s first SpaceShipTwo test flight.<\/span><\/span>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p><em>Article by <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/chris-james-1178340\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Chris James<\/a>, ARC DECRA Fellow, Centre for Hypersonics, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/the-university-of-queensland-805\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">The University of Queensland<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/branson-vs-bezos-as-the-billionaires-get-ready-to-blast-into-space-whos-got-the-better-plan-163898\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">original article<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/branson-bezos-better-space-plan-syndication\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the next fortnight, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson will take off into space, because they can, on spaceships designed by their respective companies. It\u2019s a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6430"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6430\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}