British physicist Stephen Hawking has accepted Virgin Galactic chief Richard Branson’s offer to travel to space. “I have already completed a zero gravity flight, which allowed me to float weightless (pictured above), but my ultimate ambition is to fly into space. I thought no one would take me, but Richard Branson has offered me a seat on the Virgin Galactic, and I said yes immediately,” he said on Monday on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
Virgin Galactic, which functions under the Virgin Group, is a spaceflight company that is developing commercial aircraft with the aim to take tourists to space and also help with science missions.
Hawking also shared his views on the current scenario in the United States under President Donald Trump. The scientist said while he still “liked and admired” the country in many ways, “I fear that I may not be welcome.”
Hawking also criticised Trump’s appointment of Scott Pruitt as the chief of the US Environmental Protection Agency. He described Pruitt as “a man who does not believe that carbon dioxide causes climate change”. “Climate change is one of the great dangers we face, and it’s one we can prevent,” Hawking added.
During the interview, Hawking also criticised Britons who voted in favour of Brexit as being “short-sighted”.
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