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Is this the first ever Vernian April Fools joke?

From: Harry Hayfield <harryhayfield~at~gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:44:24 +0000
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~gilead.org.il>

Only 500 people have been to space, only three people have been to the
bottom of the ocean, but no one has ever attempted to journey to the
core of an active volcano. Until now. Using patented carbon-carbon
materials pioneered for deep space exploration, Virgin is proud to
announce a revolutionary new vehicle, VVS1, which will be capable of
plunging three people into the molten lava core of an active volcano.
In its first three years of operation, VVS1 will target the five most
active volcanoes in the world: Etna, Stromboli, Yasur, Ambrym and
Tinakula. Sir Richard Branson will go on the first expedition along
with Tom Hanks, Academy Award winning actor and star of Joe Versus the
Volcano; Black Eyed Peas recording artist and science enthusiast
Will.i.am; actor/producer Seth Green; and two-time Academy Award
winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple.
Tom Hanks said: "A window seat for a journey to the liquid core of our
home planet would be a bargain at twice the price." Documentary
filmmaker Barbara Kopple has closed a deal with Virgin Produced to
direct a documentary around the Virgin Volcanic project utilising
groundbreaking 3D technology called VD. Additionally, recording artist
(and passenger) Will.i.am plans to record the first volcanic soundtrack
for the film, recorded entirely inside a live active volcano. The
soundtrack will be released in conjunction with the documentary.
Volcanologist Frederick Smith, based in the Republic of Vanuatu
currently conducting preliminary tests on Yasur, said: "The project
will derive important scientific results to help control and monitor
active volcanoes. It is believed a new level of the Volcanic
Explosivity Index could be found above and beyond the current high of
Level 8 – Supervolcanic." The team behind Virgin Volcanic believes
going to the core of the five most active volcanoes is just the first
step. In future this technology can be developed as a clean, safe and
fast alternative to trans- continental commercial aviation. By taking
the heat from molten lava Virgin Volcanic plans to develop a totally
renewable energy source to power the VVS1. It is seen as a way to
literally fulfil Richard Branson's philosophy of screwing business as
usual. This would involve going through the Earth rather than round it.
Experts predict that one could travel from Hawaii to Naples in a couple
of hours via the molten lava flows, with passengers boarding and
disembarking from a network of "Earthports" close to the world's
volcanoes. The first Virgin Volcanic trips are scheduled for 2015. Do
you have what it takes to join the Virgin Volcanic back-up team? Tell
us why below, or use the #virginvolcanic hashtag.
  
And in the premable the following quote is supposedly from Sir Branson
himself: "I have long held a fascination with volcanoes since reading
Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Alongside our
adventures with Virgin Galactic and Virgin Oceanic, volcanoes are the
next great unexplored terrain."
Received on Sun 01 Apr 2012 - 01:44:35 IDT

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