Is Virgin Galactic a scam?

They are hitting benchmarks years behind schedule.  The public was promised flights in 2007, 2009, 2011, and basically every year since then.  Regarding the military banning people, they also have a zombie contingency plan, they prepare for the worst even if they don't think it'll happen.

"Promised"? They're a business aiming to launch a pretty ambitious product. They don't owe anyone anything, and time/cost overruns are so ordinary for a project like that, that I'd find their being on schedule more suspicious than their being behind.

So, do you (or anyone) want to say now what it would mean if they ever do deliver what they're advertising?

I'm avoiding the polarizing FE side of it because when that is thrown in even the skeptical REr is likely to disagree with me.

You'd expect some delays, but 7 years of delays is quite a lot.  Also, to say they don't owe their customers anything is pretty asinine.  These people paid money to be taken into space, so they are kind of owed something right? 

Actually, they do "owe people" a product that they have been promising and accepting money for. Maybe you should do a little research on the company? 

They don't owe "the public" anything.

Plus if they don't deliver on what customers have paid for then Virgin -the large and successful global organisation with deep pockets- will be held accountable anyway. Does nobody want to say now what -hypothetically- it would mean if they do deliver what they're advertising?

The shape of the earth is irrelevant to their lack of success.  If they belly up it won't be because the Earth is flat, but rather because they're frauds.  Branson will be dead before VG is brought forward on fraud charges though.

If they fail they were frauds.

That's been said several times already, what if they succeed? Anything? Nothing?

I believe at least one flat earther has said, in this thread, that VG should be farther along because they should have learned from the Apollo program.  But isn't the FE position that Apollo was a hoax and that nobody then, or to this day, has ever been to space?

Well that's misguided but it is internally consistent. They are interrogating the RE position: If the space program were real, a layman might reasonably expect that knowledge to be of use to VG. They seem to be progressing slowly, so where's all the space program knowledge?

Of course, the knowledge is in the ongoing space programs around the world and isn't especially applicable to building a composite plane/solid fuel shuttle toy on the cheap for public recreational passengers.

Quote from: Big Blue Marble on June 17, 2014, 10:22:22 PM

Quote from: jroa on June 16, 2014, 10:48:12 PM

If I was a satan worshiping organization, I would do what I could to hide the symbolism as well.  Just because it is not a perfect incomplete pentagram, that does not mean it is not an incomplete pentagram.  Satan worshipers are sneaky like that.

You really have no clue, do you? What secret satanic organization is going to use satanic symbols in their PR material? The shit you're spewing doesn't even make sense.

And what the hell does satan worship have to do with the shape of the Earth?

Why would satanists give a crap and why would they be part of a huge conspiracy to deceive the masses about the shape of the Earth?

And finally, do you realize that "satanists" don't actually believe in a satan? Or a god?

I still don't see where you're going with the whole satanism ploy. EVEN if NASA were satanists (which is an absurd notion) what the hell would that have to do with anything this forum discusses? You're throwing out meaningless ad homenims.

Satanists are not exactly known for telling the truth, such as things like the shape of the Earth, now are they?  It is perfectly consistent with a flat Earth.

Yeah, you're just pulling random bullshit out of your ass. Your assertion of "satanism" playing a role in anything that's been mentioned here is complete and utter crap. In fact, your even suggesting that's there's some connection is one of the dumbest things I've heard at this forum. And that's really saying something.

Satanists are no more prone to lying than any other person. In fact, since they are born of mockery of religion, it's arguable that they are MORE concerned with truth than the average Joe.

Quote from: Rama Set on June 18, 2014, 10:31:12 AM

Quote from: jroa on June 18, 2014, 10:17:35 AM

NASA has given VG almost a billion dollars already.  Does it not make sense that they would also share a few tips on how to get into space orbit from their experience from 50 years ago?  VG is not starting from scratch.  In fact they have more of an advantage than anyone in space history.  They are just going to drag it out another 10 or so years and then declare bankruptcy.  It was all a money laundering scheme to begin with.

Citation Required

We can easily read between the lines of their agreement from 2007.

Quote

3. Definitive Agreements. This MOU expresses the intent of Virgin Galactic and NASA/ARC to explore collaborations and pursue definitive agreements on matters set forth in this MOU. Specific collaborative research, as well as intellectual property matters, and other terms and conditions, will be subsequently negotiated as part of any such definitive agreements. The parties agree that this MOU is independent of any other contract between the United States Government and Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic is not released hereby from its obligatio under other existing contracts with the United States Government.

Quote

5. Non-Disclosure. Neither party will disclose any confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the other party unless required by law or regulation or agreed in writing by them. This obligation may be superseded by confidentiality undertakings in a subsequently negotiated and signed definitive agreement.

Also, this tells me that it is just a money laundering scheme from the start.

Quote

As of June 2014, Virgin Galactic is in talks with Google about taking a stake in VG and in providing considerable private capital for funding both development and operations. The total deal size, in both a potential joint venture with VG, and in direct investment in VG, is on the order of "hundreds of millions" of US dollars.[37]

Please, NDAs are fairly standard in just about every job.  I've signed my fair share in the Game Industry, 3D Industry, Government and Banking.  No money laundering at any of these companies either.

Don't expect a FEer to know what NDA is.

Oh sorry, it's that Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) Jroa mentioned.  Just so everyone knows.

Yes! It's all a conspiracy to make people think the Earth is round!
Because that would be a USEFUL thing to trick people into thinking.

Step 1.) Make people think the Earth is round!
Step 2.)
Step 3.) Become GODS!

MWHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!

its a PR stunt. raise awareness of virgin airlines.
wouldn't NASA of attempted this years ago if it was possible? surely with there space conquering expertise this is a walk in the park. Lockheed martin did it with an SR-71 what harm would there be in them sharing there technical knowledge. would it really be a threat to national security if they leant VG a hand? or would the whole thing be too costly to actually achieve!
follow the money. If it can be done cheaper, it will be. concorde is a prime example.

wouldn't NASA of attempted this years ago if it was possible?

Is NASA a tourism company? Why would NASA do this?

would it really be a threat to national security if they leant VG a hand?

No, there is just no reason to waste tax dollars on making a space tourism program.

Quote from: Thick as Treacle

wouldn't NASA of attempted this years ago if it was possible?

Is NASA a tourism company? Why would NASA do this?

Quote from: Thick as Treacle

would it really be a threat to national security if they leant VG a hand?

No, there is just no reason to waste tax dollars on making a space tourism program.

Apparently they are a sort of tourism company if we go by their supposed exploits in allowing school teachers, circus owners and the likes into space and aboard their playground space station that appears more like play school every time we are shown it.

One thing about this Virgin carry on. If they manage to get this off the ground, I'd like to see how high they actually really go for one thing. Also, if they do what they say they are doing, then this tourism stuff will be bread and butter stuff in short order, once the first few flights are achieved, meaning cheaper costs and many ordinary people being able to board these amazing flights of fantasy.

I wonder if virgin ever penetrate space, or merely tease but never actually go through with the deed.

The satanists at NASA are running a money laundering scheme.  I don't know how to put it any other way.

AHAHAHA MOST DUMB PARANOID THING I'VE EVER READ ON THE INTERNET.