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Virgin Galactic crash: 'Dozens' of investors consider pulling out of space programme Virgin Galactic crash: 'Dozens' of investors consider pulling out of space programme
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Dozens of wealthy investors are considering pulling out of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic programme, in a move which could cost the entrepreneur millions, it has been claimed.Dozens of wealthy investors are considering pulling out of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic programme, in a move which could cost the entrepreneur millions, it has been claimed.
More than 30 people currently signed up for the space flights are said to be having second thoughts in the wake of the crash of SpaceShip Two in California’s Mojave desert.  More than 30 people who signed up to be among the first space travellers are now said to be reconsidering whether they want to make the flight in the wake of the crash of SpaceShip Two in California’s Mojave desert. 
Copilot Michael Alsbury, 39, died in the crash on Friday, while pilot Peter Siebold, 43, remains in hospital. Copilot Michael Alsbury, 39, died in the crash last Friday, while pilot Peter Siebold, 43, remains in hospital.
One of those who may pull out, speaking under condition of anonymity, told The Independent: “Virgin Galactic haskicked off a couple of people from the programme for saying bad things to the press; I don’t want to be another one to get kicked off because part of our contract talks about how we can’t really talk to the press and that kind of thing.” Peter Ulrich von May, an asset manager based in Switzerland, is one of those who has demanded a refund. “I want out. I subscribed seven years ago at 63, am still an active private pilot and in good health but who knows how long it will now take. I have already informed VG of my wish - no reply yet,” he told The Independent.
They added: “I am giving serious thought to pulling out.” Another of those who may ask for their money back said some people are “die-hard Richard Branson supporters and they will go on it whatever”.
Some people are “die-hard Richard Branson supporters and they will go on it whatever”, but there are more than 30 others who are also thinking of asking for their money back, claimed the source. However, speaking under condition of anonymity, they revealed that a group of more than 30 others have been talking about asking for their money back.
“Before this tragic event happened I had been thinking of pulling my money anyhow because there had been various reports saying it doesn’t stand a chance of getting into space,” they added. “Before this tragic event happened I had been thinking of pulling my money anyhow because there had been various reports saying it doesn’t stand a chance of getting into space,” they added. “I am giving serious thought to pulling out.”
Owned by Sir Richard's Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS of Abu Dhabi, Virgin Galactic aims to fly people more than 62 miles (100km) above Earth. Igor Kutsenko, who runs an advertising agency in Moscow and plans to go into space with his parents, said: “We were all shocked and disappointed by the tragic news. We are in the project from very beginning. My parents are getting older and I’m only worried that their physical ability to participate in this obviously challenging adventure is deteriorating. But we stay firm in our desire to make this suborbital flight.”
More than 700 people, including Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks, have bought tickets, which are now US $250,000 [£156,000] each. In response to the claim that more than 30 customers are considering their position in the aftermath of the crash, a spokesperson for Virgin Galactic admitted a number of people have asked for their money back.
A number of people have asked for their money back, the company admitted tonight. “We can confirm that less than three per cent of people have requested refunds,” the spokesman said.
In response to the claim that more than 30 investors are considering their position in the aftermath of the crash, a spokesperson for Virgin Galactic told The Independent: “We can confirm that less than three per cent of people have requested refunds.” Hours after last Friday’s crash, Virgin asked its "Future Astronauts" not to talk to the press: “We are aware that a few of you are receiving press enquiries about today’s accident or may do so in the coming days. We would greatly appreciate it if you do not comment.”
Princess Beatrice, who had planned to go on one of the space flights, is one of those said to have changed her mind. “Beatrice was excited by the idea of space tourism, but there is no way she will be going on one of the flights, if they are ever allowed to take place,” a source close to Buckingham Palace was quoted in the Daily Mail. Owned by Sir Richard’s Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS of Abu Dhabi, Virgin Galactic aims to fly people more than 62 miles (100km) above Earth.
More than 700 people, including Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Tom Hanks, have bought tickets, which cost £156,000 each.
Princess Beatrice, who had planned to go on one of the space flights, is one of those said to have changed her mind. “Beatrice was excited by the idea of space tourism, but there is no way she will be going on one of the flights, if they are ever allowed to take place,” a source close to Buckingham Palace said in the Daily Mail today.
Despite revelations that experts had previously warned Virgin Galactic of safety concerns with SpaceShip Two, Sir Richard remained defiant. “When you have any incidents you get a lot of self-proclaimed experts coming out, a lot of whom know nothing about what they talk about,” he told the BBC.Despite revelations that experts had previously warned Virgin Galactic of safety concerns with SpaceShip Two, Sir Richard remained defiant. “When you have any incidents you get a lot of self-proclaimed experts coming out, a lot of whom know nothing about what they talk about,” he told the BBC.
The billionaire tycoon, speaking to Sky News, insisted that “once it's thoroughly tested and we can go to space, we will go to space.” The billionaire tycoon, speaking to Sky News, had planned to make the first flight next year with his son Sam, but insisted that “once it’s thoroughly tested, and we can go to space - we will go to space.” He declared: “We will not fly members of the public unless we can fly myself and family members.”
“We will not fly members of the public unless we can fly myself and family members,” he added.
An investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into the cause of the crash is continuing, and pilot error has not been ruled out. The crash may have been caused by the prototype spacecraft’s unique “feathered” tail section, which unfolded prematurely. Designed to slow the 60-foot craft for a safe descent, it deployed too early, said NTSB officials on Sunday.An investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into the cause of the crash is continuing, and pilot error has not been ruled out. The crash may have been caused by the prototype spacecraft’s unique “feathered” tail section, which unfolded prematurely. Designed to slow the 60-foot craft for a safe descent, it deployed too early, said NTSB officials on Sunday.
The system should have been activated by two separate steps, the NTSB's acting chairman Christopher Hart told reporters. Pilots must unlock the tail feathers before operating a second, separate lever to manoeuvre them. The mechanism is meant to be unlocked after the spacecraft reaches 1.4 times the speed of sound.The system should have been activated by two separate steps, the NTSB's acting chairman Christopher Hart told reporters. Pilots must unlock the tail feathers before operating a second, separate lever to manoeuvre them. The mechanism is meant to be unlocked after the spacecraft reaches 1.4 times the speed of sound.
During Friday’s doomed test flight, copilot Michael Alsbury unlocked the feathers at a little over Mach 1. The tail section then began to unfurl, Mr Hart said, “without being commanded”, and: “Two seconds later, we saw disintegration.” He warned: “There’s much more that we don’t know... We are a long way from finding the cause.”
While many of those signed up to Sir Richard’s dream of space travel are now having second thoughts, others remain undeterred. “I’m up for it more than ever. I would say most of the customers are,” claimed advertising guru Trevor Beattie.
And Bengt Soderqvist, a 71-year-old estate agent from Sweden, said: “I am sad about the accident. I am sad, because I know that the program will be delayed, but I am still in.”