2001–2007: Entry into space travel and Virgin Media
On 25 September 2004, Branson announced the signing of a deal under which a new space tourism company, Virgin Galactic, will license the technology behind SpaceshipOne—funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and designed by aeronautical engineer Burt Rutan—to take paying passengers into suborbital space. Virgin Galactic plans to make flights available to the public with tickets priced at US$200,000 using the Scaled Composites White Knight Two.[34] The spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo, is manufactured by The Spaceship Company, which was founded by Branson and Rutan and is now solely owned by Virgin Galactic. In 2013, Branson said that he planned to take his two children, 31-year-old Holly and 28-year-old Sam, on a trip to outer space when they ride the SpaceShipTwo rocket plane on its first public flight, then planned for 2014.[35] As part of his promotion of the firm, Branson has added a variation of the Virgin Galactic livery to his personal business jet, the Dassault Falcon 900EX "Galactic Girl" (G-GALX).
Branson's next venture with the Virgin group was Virgin Fuels, which was set up to respond to global warming and exploit the recent spike in fuel costs by offering a revolutionary, cheaper fuel for automobiles and, in the near future, aircraft. Branson has stated that he was formerly a global warming sceptic and was influenced in his decision by a breakfast meeting with Al Gore.[40]
On 21 September 2006, Branson pledged to invest the profits of Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains in research for environmentally-friendly fuels.
On 4 July 2006, Branson sold his Virgin Mobile company to UK cable TV, broadband, and telephone company NTL:Telewest for £900million. A new company was launched with much fanfare and publicity on 8 February 2007, under the name Virgin Media.
Branson also launched the Virgin Health Bank on 1 February 2007, offering parents-to-be the opportunity to store their baby's umbilical cord blood stem cells in private and public stem-cell banks.
On 9 February 2007, Branson announced the setting up of a new global science and technology prize—The Virgin Earth Challenge—in the belief that history has shown that prizes of this nature encourage technological advancements for the good of mankind.
In July 2007, Branson purchased his Australian home, Makepeace Island, in Noosa. In August 2007, Branson announced that he bought a 20-percent stake in Malaysia's AirAsia X.
On 13 October 2007, Branson's Virgin Group sought to add Northern Rock to its empire after submitting an offer that would result in Branson personally owning 30% of the company and changing the company's name from Northern Rock to Virgin Money.
2020–present: Coronavirus pandemic difficulties
In March 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic which saw a dramatic decline in international air travel of around 60% globally,[82] Branson and Virgin attracted criticism by asking staff to take eight weeks' unpaid leave.[83] In response to the global pandemic, Branson put his luxury Necker Island up as collateral for a commercial loan to save Virgin Atlantic.[84] Branson said: "Over the five decades I have been in business, this is the most challenging time we have ever faced... From a business perspective, the damage to many is unprecedented and the length of the disruption remains worryingly unknown."
"Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson" = 337 (English Ordinal)68th prime
"Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson" = 2022 (English Sumerian)
"Richard Charles Nicholas Branson" = 138 (Full Reduction) 138+831=969
From and including: Tuesday, July 18, 1950
To, but not including Sunday, July 11, 2021
Result: 25,926 days
Or 70 years, 11 months, 23 days excluding the end date.
Or 851 months, 23 days excluding the end date
3703 weeks and 5 days
7103.01% of a common year (365 days)
25926/29.531 = 877.92
From and including: Tuesday, July 18, 1950
To, but not including Sunday, July 11, 2021
25926 days of life
25926/365 = 71.0
"Sir Richard CN Branson" = 710 (Jewish)
25926/29.531 = 877.92
Richard Branson will be 71 years old on Tishabav
Sun, 18 July 2021 = 9th of Av, 5781
ט׳ בְּאָב תשפ״א
Tish'a B'Av
Parashat Vaetchanan
From and including: Tuesday, July 18, 1950
To, but not including Sunday, July 11, 2021
25926 days of life
25926/365 = 71.0
"Sir Richard CN Branson" = 710 (Jewish)
25926/29.531 = 877.92
No comments:
Post a Comment