Virgin Galactic Customers Parting with Their Cash

摘要

Virgin Galactic has collected $13 million in cash from some 157 people who have signed contracts to be flown to the edge of the atmosphere — about 110 kilometers — to experience about five minutes of low-gravity conditions, Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn said. The London-based company made headlines in late 2004 when its founder, British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, agreed to finance development of a six-passenger SpaceShipTwo vehicle, based on the Burt Rutan-designed SpaceShipOne that successfully flew twice from the Mohave Airfield in California and thereby won the $10 million Ansari X Prize.