While SpaceX and Orbital's rockets can launch reasonably large payloads directly into orbit, Virgin's machine is limited to shorter, sub-orbital hops.As a result, Virgin's business model is different, as well.
It is believed to have launched a long-range rocket and put an object into orbit in December 2012, defying scepticism and international warnings not to pursue such a programme, which could be used to develop intercontinental missiles.
I once got a letter from Nasa, asking if I would be willing to join a mission to orbit the Earth as Big Bird, to encourage kids to get interested in space.
Instead, set at the foot of Mount Ainslie (an elevation named after fake Scottish war hero, James Ainslie, that anchors the northern end of the land axis on the Griffins' plan of beautiful geometry and orbit) the casino was to feature a leisure park, al fresco cafes, a theatre and beer gardens.
Best director went to Mexican Alfonso Cuarón for spectacular 3D space drama Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts stranded in orbit after a space station accident.
Concern that Greece could fall into Russia's orbit has caused disquiet in the Obama administration, exacerbating fears that Athens could be headed for the euro exit door with possibly disastrous consequences for security on Nato's south-eastern flank.
Love it or loathe it – and many loved it, while loathing the £15 admission fee – we've got Anish Kapoor's Orbit (top) for keeps.
11.43pm BST23:43 OK, that's all from me: James Richardson is waiting for me up in near-earth orbit, where we are about to record tonight's thrilling installment of our World Cup Daily podcast.
A regular visitor throughout the last decade, it was a chance meeting with Bogollagama, the then foreign minister, in 2007 that brought the then shadow defence secretary back into the orbit of the Sri Lankan political elite.
More from The Onion, reporting how a new coal industry report warns too many wind turbines could blow the earth out of its orbit.
As the centenary of his birth on June 29 approaches, the mystery of his final moments has yet to be solved - no body nor plane was found - but his reputation as the greatest cultural figure to die "pour la France" in the second world war has spiralled far beyond the sun to orbit alongside The Little Prince's asteroid.
