Around 3,240 people have already snapped up seats on Virgin Galactic flights, by Sarah Woods.
Virgin Galactic is targeting those with at least £10m in their bank account, as potential passengers to whiz into space. Currently the most expensive flying experience possible, flights cost around US$250,000 per person, with Sir Richard Branson pledging to launch space tourism for wealthy passengers by 2023. Flights will run every 32 hours, reaching an altitude of 100km above the Earth’s surface on-board the company’s SpaceShip Two. At this height, the body experiences genuine weightlessness for a few minutes – a ready-made Insta-selfie opportunity for passengers as they look down on Earth.
Prior to the official launch, Virgin plans an ambitious phase of 16 test flights during 2020. It will also need to build five SpaceShip Two carriers in order to meet its tourism goals. Seats have already all pre-sold, which means a total of 3,242 people will head into space with Virgin Galactic between 2020 and 2023 – all passengers are believed to have at least US$10 million in the bank as Virgin Galactic believes this is its target demographic.
Rival company SpaceX has loftier expectations citing Mars as its target destination. Though Elon Musk has yet to release his pricing model,he has previously suggested tickets would cost “around US$200,000”
Virgin Galactic’s new ‘Gateway to Space’ building is now fully completed in New Mexico – a sure sign that space travel isn’t just pie-in-the-sky. A hybrid operations hub and airline lounge for pilots and astronauts, the buildingis also where the families of passengers will spectate the SpaceShip Two departing earth.
