Space Tourism Set for Lift-off
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Virgin Galactic plans to begin test flights next year and carry the first paying customers at $200,000 US per seat in late 2009 or early 2010.
The company claims to have taken $21 million US in deposits from approximately 150 people. Each flight will carry two pilots and six passengers, who will receive up to a week of training to prepare for weightlessness and the heavy G-forces that accompany acceleration of the ship. Photo by The Horror
A competitor, Benson Space, still plans for a 2009 launch even after Chairman James W Benson announced Friday that the company will redesign its Dream Chaser spaceship to make it lighter and more aerodynamic. The change came after five months of study and underscored the state of fluctuation in the emerging space tourism business.
Tai and Benson spoke to a conference of space enthusiasts and entrepreneurs at a Dallas-area hotel. He gave a still-developing picture of what suborbital flight on a private vehicle will look like, reports brisbanetimes
Virgin Galactic plans a pressurized cabin so passengers will not have to wear bulky space suits, “but you’ll still get to dress up like an astronaut,” Tai said.
There will be no height or weight limits, Tai said. The Federal Aviation Administration declined to require medical clearances. Tai said virtually anyone who signs a waiver can go, although those with serious heart conditions might be encouraged not to take an early flight.
Doug Griffith, a risk management expert who has studied the industry, said companies can protect themselves from lawsuits by advertising the dangers of space travel — but that might turn off customers. He advises companies to lobby for immunity legislation and, if there is a crash, be contrite and treat victims’ families well.
Tai said customers who are given an honest assessment of the risks will not be able to successfully sue operators after a crash. And he said the public understands the danger of space travel after two disasters involving NASA-operated space shuttles.
Another competitor, Space Adventures, has already put five customers into orbit aboard Russian Soyuz capsules and plans $100,000 US suborbital flights beginning around 2009.
Space Adventures charges $20 to $25 million US for trips to the International Space Station, like the flight made last year by Dallas-area entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari. Eric Anderson, the company’s chief executive, is trying to find a customer who would pay $100 million US for a flight to the moon, and he wants to sell a space walk. Photo by Space Explorer
There is no reason why a civilian could not make a space walk with a bit of training, said Anderson, whose company would benefit when the walker returns to Earth and talks about the journey.
“That would certainly do a lot to promote private space travel.” he said.
On June 21 2004, SpaceShip One was credited with the $10 million US Ansari X-Prize for privately funded space flight above California’s Mojave Desert. Photo left — Virgin Galactic. Photo right — Santosh Dawara
Industry representatives and some former government officials say the private companies, are displacing NASA at the leading edge of human space travel.
In 2004, President George W Bush announced a plan to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020 — more than 50 years after Neil Armstrong bounded down the ladder of Apollo 11 — but space entrepreneurs doubt that a taxpayer-financed program can succeed.
“NASA is increasingly irrelevant,” Benson declared. “There is no way this country is going to support a $103 billion US Apollo-on-steroids return to the moon.”
Space Tourist to Blog From the Sky
Charles Simonyi says he will take photos and video during his 13-day trip, and even blogging from space.
Virgin Galactic Overview with Richard Branson
Overview of Virgin Galactic space travel. Hosted by Richard Branson, featuring Burt Rutan, winner of the X-prize. For more on Virgin Galactic check out www.iinnovatecast.com for an interview with Alex Tai, VP of Operations.
Space Tourist Goes For Flight — VOA Story
From April, Hungarian-American was the fifth space tourist, but the first to build a library in space. Billionaire and software wizard Dr. Charles Simonyi were to start a library as well as help out with less pleasant tasks aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the 12-day space mission.
Space Travel Brochure
The promotion states “Take a vacation in space! Pre-production art from ‘Spacescape’ was used to make this video brochure.�
It’s actually rather chilling to think that ads like these may become commonplace in the near future.
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I bet it gonna very expensive trip! I think, even I am selling all my stuff, including my house, I won’t be able to get the ticket for the trip. Thanks for your info, keep it up!
Well at approximately $200,000 US, it certainly isn’t pocket change for a trip
Thanks Suray!
I had heard that William Shatner had been one of the first celebrities to sign up for the trip. LOL Captain Kirk actually in space! A company my husband’s uncle worked for has also designed a space craft. It successfully made 2 trips outside the atmosphere.
Not for me Deborah….I don’t like flying…..anywhere
now if YOU won the BTF prize you would have half the fare??
Kim, I’m ok once I’m up in the air, I love it. It’s the take-offs and landings that makes me queasy…and turbulance…THAT’S a killer for me.
Can you just imagine what take-off would be like in a space shuttle? I don’t think you’d forget that for a long time coming.
I think it would be an experience of a lifetime.
As for BTF, haha, they say that expenses are paid for travel, so I would assume that covers wherever you have to fly in from.
Las Vegas, That’s too funny!
Wow, that would be very exciting for your husband’s uncle. Would he stand a chance for the opportunity to fly in it? What is the company?
Only people that can afford this are mega rich. I’d love to try it, but its sort of out of my price range for a vacation.