Virgin Orbit concedes defeat and is knocked down for less than a tenth of its original stock market value. A generation ago, Mao Tse Tung suggested that China could not put a potato into space had it wanted to; whereas now as they gear up for ventures to both the Moon and Mars, it is the UK that would appear not to be able to launch root vegetables into orbit. Nonetheless there are two lessons to be drawn, and the first is that Richard Branson remains an outstanding entrepreneur in a place that encourages them only in lip service. The second that the two areas where the bulk of speculation is currently invested (viz. space launches and electrical aircraft) are clearly ones in which values may rise or fall to the tune of several zeroes.
Our own launch ~ on which a decision as to whether or not to continue development at full scale will be based in large part ~ is set for tomorrow, May 25th.
D-Day, if you like, or Drone Day.
