A handful of billionaires spent 2021 blasting into space, but a growing public backlash against their extravagance could curb the future of space tourism
Popularity started turning against space tourism soon after both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin launched their maiden manned flights in July. “We’ve now reached stratospheric inequality. Billionaires burning into space, away from a world of pandemic, climate change and starvation... This is human folly, not human achievement," said Deepak Xavier, Oxfam International's global head of Inequality Campaign, at the time.
“This is a sentiment that could pave the way to more calls from the public for targeted climate taxes on the lifestyles of the wealthy individuals in the New Year,” says Greenaway.Shares in Virgin Galactic have lost more than half of their value since the company's first flight in July. Branson has even sold $300 million of his own shares in the business, and a subsequent space flight has been postponed until next year.
But the rocket companies are fighting back, trying to show the world that they are more"professional," says Greenaway."There needs to be a purpose to it over and above just wanting to fly up high and look at the world."
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
The 10 Biggest Billionaire Gainers Of 2021Think you had a good 2021? These ten people got $458 billion richer this year.
Weiterlesen »
An Appreciation of Christian Boltanski (1944–2021), Brilliant Artist, My Friend“We’d kept up, employing on the rare occasions when we met the peculiar, playful intimacy of people who knew each other only too well.”
Weiterlesen »
Inside the L.A. Film Critics' best of 2021 vote, from 'Drive My Car' to 'Barb & Star'The Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. spread the wealth with awards for Jane Campion, Simon Rex, Penélope Cruz and more outstanding work from 2021.
Weiterlesen »