Should Entrepreneurs be Involved in the Space Industry?

After Branson's Virgin Galactic spacecraft crashed on Friday a rocket scientist has urged Virgin Galactic to "stay out of the space business" and "go sell mobile phones". Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has accused a "handful of British newspapers" of publishing "wild accusations" over the crash. The crash killed a test pilot after a safety device had been deployed early. Is it time to recognise space tourism is just a vanity project and of little benefit to science and exploration?