Is Virgin Galactic going to succeed?

Virgin Galactic is Richard Branson's space tourism company. They operate a single vehicle - SpaceShipTwo - which after a lengthy development program is due to take paying passengers next year, and are beginning to make noises about offering some kind of new point-to-point transport across Earth. It is a hybrid rocket propelled spacecraft that is launched from a carrier aircraft, carrying four passengers to space at an altitude of 110km. They are attempting to commercialise the X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne flight that happened 16 years ago now, which has been a slow process and has included one serious accident that cost them a vehicle and the life of a pilot. Their stock value remains reasonably steady though, with many anticipating growth in the future. Business news outlets are touting it as a good investment in the burgeoning space industry.

Please note, this blog is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. It should not be taken as a recommendation to buy or se…