Physicist Stephen Hawking Reveals Richard Branson's Generosity; Says Businessman Offered Him A Seat To Space On Virgin Galactic
World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has theorized and written about space and the universe for years with little hope of traveling among the stars. However, Britain's business magnate and philanthropist, Richard Branson has extended an opportunity to him that will make his dreams come true.
Physicist Stephen Hawking revealed recently that Branson offered to help the cosmologist's dreams become reality by offering him a seat on Virgin Galactic, Yahoo Tech reported. He said during an interview that while his three children had brought him much happiness in life, the only other event that would second it would be to travel through space.
Physicist Stephen Hawking went on to reveal that while he had already completed a flight which was zero-gravity allowing him to float weightless, his real ambition is to travel through space. Furthermore, owing to his condition he remarked that he lost hope that any space explorer would want to take him. However, he said Branson had offered him a seat which he said he accepted immediately.
Further details such as dates were not furnished by Stephen Hawking nor Branson about plans to transport the researcher who suffers from a motor neuron disease called ALS, into space. However, Virgin Galactic is yet to firm up schedules for regular commercial flights into space and it could be years before the scientist sees the inside of the shuttle.
Virgin Galactic is the brand behind Virgin's space shuttle called SpaceShipTwo which aims to give passengers including Physicist Stephen Hawking a feel for an actual space flight. The shuttle hopes to commercialize flights so that those traveling to space could do so without the training of becoming an astronaut for NASA, the Metro reported.
Furthermore, the shuttle is reported to be launched off of a carrier and lifts out of earth's atmosphere and hangs in space for a few minutes. Passengers would enjoy the feeling of weightlessness and take in the view and return to earth very much like an aircraft.
Physicist Stephen Hawking also commented on the current administration in the United States, Fortune reported. He said he was concerned about President Trump's stance towards environmental protection, adding that climate change was one of the major threats faced by the world.