for more on the space launch, i spoke with nicholas schmidle, a staff writer for "the new yorker" andhe new book “test gods: virgin galactic and the making of a modern astronaut.” so, nicholas, today's lift off, launch, i mean, is this essentially just a race between billionaires? i mean, why was it so significant? >> this is a real thing. this is not just a contest between the world's richest men for who can, sort of, have the biggest toys. that part is certainly there, no doubt, but this is a vindication. i think what's reay important to remember is that richard branson, he's not someone-- his business empire is not based on things that he has built with his hands. he's a marketing genius, right. and he has built brands. he has built compani. but he specializes in the customer experience. and that's what he was going to do with virgin galactic. he had another company, scaled composites, which is going to build the spaceship for him, hand it off, he was going to then, sort of, brand it up, and then he was going to fly passengers. and then this terrible crash in 2014 tore those plans

. >> up next new yorker writer nicholas schmidle on the creation of the space tourism company virgin the stories of its test pilots, engineers and leaders. this is hosted by vroman's bookstore in pasadena, california. >> hello, everyone. my name is mac and i want to thank you all on behalf of vroman'san bookstore. were happy to have nicholas schmidle will be conversation with buzz bissinger discussing his new book "test gods: virgin galactic and the making of a modern astronaut." tonight he that does include a q&a portions or if you like to ask nicholas a question, you can click the ask the question at the bottom and we'll get that went into the the event. t lastly if you want to purchase

. ♪♪ >> up next, new yorker writer, nicholas schmidle on the formation of the virgin galactic, and thishosted by roman's bookstore. >> i'd like to thank you all for roman's bookstore. we are lucky to have nicholas schmidle, his new book "test gods", and it does contain a q & a, so if you want to ask a question, click the button at the bottom and if you'd like to purchase the book, click the green button. and with that out of the way i'll let them take over. >> thank you. >> nick, greetings from whatever this is, the screen. for those who are listening, nick is calling in from london so it's 2:00 in the morning, is that correct? >> that is, yeah, exactly. >> you're comatose, doesn't make sense, we will forgive him. i'm here to ask questions and really here to ask questions. . i've read this book from beginning to end and it's called "test gods" and there are so many different moves to it. it's a swashbuckling story, it's a story of flight, it's a story of excitement. it's a store of speed, it's a story of richard branson one of the greatest personalities that we know of. it's a story of

. >> up next new yorker writer nicholas schmidle on the creation of the space tourism company virgin galactic. the stories of its test pilots, engineers and leaders. this is hosted by vroman's bookstore in pasadena, california. >> hello, everyone. my name is mac and i want to thank you all on behalf of vroman'san bookstore. were happy to have nicholas schmidle will be conversation with buzz bissinger discussing his new book "test gods: virgin galactic and the making of a modern astronaut." tonight he that does include a q&a portions or if you like to ask nicholas a question, you can click the ask the question at the bottom and we'll get that went into the the event. t lastly if you want to purchase this book go ahead and click the green button and it will take you there. i will get out of the way and let them take over. thank you both so much. >> thank you. >> nick, reading from whatever this is, this screen. for those listening, nic is calling in from london so it's 2:00 in the morning, is that correct? >> it is, exactly. >> if it's comatose, does make sense will forget them. i'm ts

up next year writer nicholas schmidle on the creation of the space tourism company virgin galactic to the stories of his test pilots, engineers and leaders. this is hosted by romans books are in pasadena, california. >> hi there everyone. what the thank you on behalf of the bookstore for tuning into the event with us. were lucky to have at this nicholas schmidle is going to be in conversation discussingti the new book, virgin galactic in the making of the modern astronaut. this does include a q&a portion feels like to ask nicholas a question any point quickly ask a question but towards the end of the event you like to purchase this book clean that green button and it will take you right there. the way i will take over much. >> thank you. >> , greetings from whatever this is. for those who are listening nicholas calling in from london. it is too i have in the morning is that correct? >> yes it is. >> your comatose we will forgive him. i'm just here to ask questions. i have read this book frome beginning to end and fell in love withh it. it is called test gods. there are so many differe

we are lucky to have nicholas schmidle, his new book "test gods", and it does contain a q & a, so ift to ask a question, click the button at the bottom and if you'd like to purchase the book, click the green button. and with that out of the w

up next year writer nicholas schmidle on the creation of

commander leroy ciao and nicholas schmidle. sorry for mispronouncing that.ink this will have the same sort of fan fare on tuesday? what are you looking for? >> i think it will probably have the same kind of fan fare just because we have another household name going up. of course, richard branson being the classic kind of showman that he is definitely, you know, got out there first. but, yeah, jeff bezos, i think a lot of people will be watching this, too. >> nicholas, you literally wrote the book on virgin galactic here? did your source give you any indication that branson was happy with how it all went down? >> yeah. i talked to people who were with him that morning. he was elated with how it went down. as we said, he was up first, which was huge for them to get up and beat blue origin. part of that is what you alluded to in the opening. they are flying a little bit below this internationally recognized carbon line. they wanted to be first, plant a flag and say, look -- you could see from the inside of the spaceship that it's blackouts. there's a blue earth

we're luckily to have nicholas schmidting -- schmidle. it does include a q&a portion, so if you'd like to ask a question request at any point, push the ask the question button at the bottom x if you'd like to purchase a book -- [inaudible] i'll go ahead and let them take over. thank you both so much. >> thank you. >> s thanks. >> nick, greetings from whatever this is, the screen. for those who are listening, nick is calling in from london, so it's 2:00 in the morning, is that correct? >> that is, yeah, exactly. [laughter] >> if he doesn't make sense, we will forgive him. i have read this book are from beginning to end, "it's -- test gods." there's so many moves to it. it's a swashbuckling story. it's a story of excitement, it's a story of speed. it's the story of richard branson who's one of the greatest personalities we know of. it's the story of nick's father and a very, very complex relationship. i got to know nick in 2011 when he wrote -- you know, i read the new yorker, and because uma journalist, i get envious. he did this incredibl