Space Tourism News Daily
Over the past couple of weeks, several significant developments have occurred in the space tourism industry:
Virgin Galactic Faces Potential Delisting
On January 16, 2025, Virgin Galactic received a notice from the New York Stock Exchange regarding potential delisting due to its average closing share price falling below $1 over 30 consecutive days, closing at 88 cents recently. The company has six months to address this issue, possibly through a "reverse stock split" to boost share value. Despite selling approximately 800 future flight tickets at up to $450,000 each, Virgin Galactic's stock has declined from over $59 in 2021 to a current market value of around $360 million. The company successfully launched its first commercial flight last summer.
Orbital Reef Progress
In December 2024, Orbital Reef, a space station project led by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Sierra Space, announced advancements toward becoming a commercial destination in low-Earth orbit, approximately 230 miles above Earth. Designed as a modular "mixed-use business park," the station aims to support scientific research, tourism, and commercial activities. Early concepts were revealed in 2021, with some parts expected to be operational by 2027 and fully functional by 2030. NASA has recently completed tests for the station's life support systems.
Space Perspective's Upcoming Flight
In October 2024, Sir Richard Branson announced plans to co-pilot Space Perspective's hydrogen space balloon, Spaceship Neptune, scheduled for its first crewed flight in 2025. Priced at $125,000 per seat, the six-hour journey will take passengers 20 miles above Earth, offering a plush cabin, fine dining, cocktails, and Wi-Fi. The flight requires no special physical fitness, and over 1,800 reservations have been made. Branson, an investor in Space Perspective, will be joined by founders Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter.
Blue Origin's 100th Female Space Traveler
In December 2024, Emily Calandrelli, known as "Space Gal" from her YouTube and Netflix shows, became the 100th woman to visit space during a Blue Origin flight. The 12-minute suborbital journey included five minutes in space, sponsored by 30 companies. Post-flight, Calandrelli faced online criticism for her emotional reaction, leading Blue Origin to remove the video due to harsh comments. She hopes that space travel will become more accessible and affordable in the next decade, viewing this period as a revolutionary era for space exploration.
These developments highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of the space tourism industry, with companies facing financial challenges, advancing commercial space station projects, planning innovative tourism experiences, and celebrating milestones in human spaceflight.
As of December 27, 2024, here are the latest developments concerning major space tourism companies:
Blue Origin
- FAA License for New Glenn Rocket: Blue Origin has secured a commercial space launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its New Glenn rocket. This approval permits orbital missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with plans for the reusable first stage to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. The inaugural mission will serve as a certification for the U.S. Space Force, positioning Blue Origin to compete for national security space missions alongside SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.
SpaceX
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Potential $1 Trillion Valuation: Analysts project that SpaceX, currently valued at approximately $350 billion, may surpass Tesla's $1 trillion market value. This optimistic outlook is largely attributed to the rapid expansion of Starlink, SpaceX's broadband satellite network, which has significantly reduced launch costs through reusable rocket technology. Starlink's growing user base and potential for additional services, such as cellphone connectivity, contribute to this favorable financial forecast.
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Defense Sector Collaboration: SpaceX is reportedly in discussions with companies like Palantir Technologies and Anduril Industries to form a consortium aimed at bidding on U.S. government contracts. This alliance seeks to challenge established defense contractors by leveraging AI-enabled autonomous technology, with formal announcements anticipated in the coming months.
Virgin Galactic
- Founder Withdraws Financial Support: Richard Branson has announced that he will cease further financial investment in Virgin Galactic. Having already contributed $1 billion to the venture, Branson believes the company possesses sufficient funds to continue operations without additional capital from him. This decision follows the bankruptcy of Virgin Orbit earlier in the year.
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the space tourism industry as companies navigate technological advancements, regulatory landscapes, and financial strategies.
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