Virgin Galactic Space-Tourist Bookings Back to Pre-Tragedy Level
- About 25 people dropped out of program after fatal 2014 crash
- Branson venture reports `strong progress' toward first flight
Bookings from would-be space tourists planning to fly with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Ltd. have recovered almost to the level seen before the fatal breakup of its SpaceShipTwo rocket plane in October 2014.
About 25 of 700 fee-paying clients withdrew from the program after the crash in the Mojave Desert in California caused it to be put on hold just months before the first commercial flight, Virgin Galactic Chief Executive Officer George Whitesides said Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.