By Lindsay Der
Have you ever wished you could frolic amongst the stars? How much would you be willing to pay to fulfill that dream? If the answer is half of a million dollars, then you’re in luck! Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, offers the opportunity of space travel for the low price of $450,000 per ticket. In February 2022, the company announced they were opening ticket sales to the public, which were previously restricted to clients “on a special list.” Other than the absurdly high prices, the company has received a fair amount of backlash for its lack of… efficiency? Over the past two years, Virgin Galactic has lost a total of 1 billion dollars. Despite having sold about 600 tickets, Virgin Galactic has only flown four flights, none of them including any customers. As they have for the past few years, Virgin Galactic anticipates starting commercial flights sometime this year. Additionally, the company’s former chairman, Chamath Palihapitiya, is currently under investigation for his involvement in the insider trading of Virgin Galactic stock. The lawsuit also names Richard Branson, the founder of the corporation, as being involved. All in all, if you have the funds, the patience, and the trust to invest your money into a Virgin Galactic ticket, then good for you; however, it seems like many people have lost hope, and the future of the company looks grim at best.