Virgin Galactic owes so much to history | Letters
Michael Carley (Letters, 22 October) suggests that the private sector is "producing an inferior late substitute for a public achievement". Virgin Galactic fully recognises its existence and achievements are built on decades of work by thousands of committed individuals and government agencies. The army of talented people now working for the new commercial space companies like Virgin Galactic and its sister satellite launch company, Virgin Orbit, seek to extend that great legacy with new generation space vehicles, creating technology and experiences which will improve our lives on and off this planet.
Mr Carley's reference to the X-15 aircraft is an excellent example of how we're building on past achievements. Our system design, particularly the "air-launch" concept, took its inspiration in part from that high-risk, experimental flight test programme. By introducing, among other things, 21st-century materials technology and an innovative solution to re-entry, Virgin Galactic will have, for the first time, a privately funded spaceship fit for regular commercial service.
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