Just think about it; a trip into space has got to be the most extravagant getaway on the planet! And it’s all yours for the bargain price of $200,000 or £129,000!
Richard Branson’s commercial space airplane, Virgin Galactic has just made a test trip into space. The SpaceShipTwo can seat six passengers and has just broken the sound barrier, reaching a speed of Mach 1.2. Branson called it a “historic day”.
And a series of test trips will follow, progressing beyond the sound barrier and into space. And if successful, the maiden voyage of the very first commercial space trip could be held as soon as early 2014! Millions has been spent building the Spaceport America in New Mexico where the voyages will depart from. Designed by architect Norman Foster, the spaceport has a two mile long runway in the remote desert. Richard Branson and his two children will be onboard the first flight and will enjoy a brief spell floating weightlessly in space.
The SpaceShipOne (pictured above) took flight in 2004 and was the first manned private space flight. It reached a total altitude of 100km (62 miles) into the atmosphere, paving the way for SpaceShipTwo and commercial space flights. Today the trendsetting plane is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
Even though tickets are $200,000 each, it’s thought that more than 500 have already been sold to eager travellers. They will enjoy a two hour flight, rising 60 miles up into space and will experience 6 minutes of weightlessness. The Virgin Galactic fleet will number five space planes in total. So if you want to enjoy a trip with a difference – this is it!
And to be honest, if I could afford it (must start playing the lottery) I would be on that flight without a doubt!
