By Sayem Hossain.
Islamic Travel Columnist

With all the talk in the media about the Virgin Galactic crash, Richard Branson has taken center stage. He is best known for his outspoken and precarious antics – ranging from crossing the English channel in an amphibious vehicle in an hour and 40 minutes to crossing the Pacific from Japan to Canada with a record speed of 394 km/h.

The focus of the Virgin Galactic has been on its capability to give well-doers a chance to briefly see the Earth from the lower reaches of space, also informally referred to as space tourism. But the long-term vision is greater. The ultimate goal of these test flights is to shorten flight times between long distances. Essentially, the space craft would leave the Earth’s atmosphere from its point of origin and re-enter near the destination. Imagine a world where you could be at two different dinner parties in New York and London on the same day. Not to mention shortening times of tolerating numbing legs from sitting and the crying babies. We can only hope this becomes reality sooner than later.