Branson's Folly

Branson's folly rests on the desert in fragments. This is not likely to be the end. An ego that cannot be contained within the Earth will most probably rocket on without limits into space.

Rampant narcissism has become such a badge of honor that when the DSM-5, the most recent edition of the diagnostic manual used by therapists was being edited, consideration was given to dropping Narcissistic Personality Disorder as a diagnostic category. The normalization of narcissism may be the result of an explosive growth of internet media outlets in which the more excessive - and thus the more pathological the narcissism - the more the person is showered with what narcissists want most: attention.

Other narcissists, lest they be left behind, grasp every opportunity to associate themselves with a shooting star. Note the list of celebrities who have attached themselves to Branson's folly. Did they buy their ticket to ride for publicity value, never intending to follow through? Or, did they - like a modern day Icarus - share Branson's illusion that wings of wax, if emblazoned with a Virgin logo, would not melt?

Branson was told by experts that there would be "setbacks," a euphemism for disasters. History strongly suggests that disaster is part of the game. Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated during launch. Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entry. Gus Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee died due to a bird in the cabin during practice for a launch. These disasters took place in spite of massive government resources, and were part of an heroic effort. Is there anything heroic about space tourism? How much loss of life is justifiable to enable the super-wealthy to experience six minutes of weightlessness?

This is not the first disaster for Branson's SpaceShipTwo. In 2007, three were killed and three others critically injured during development of its rocket motor. Now that this second disaster has taken place - ending at least one more life - who but flaming narcissists could characterize this all but inevitable disaster as an "anomaly?"