The high price gets you a flight on Virgin Galactic’s newest commercial space shuttle, set to launch by the end of next year. Already, around 450 people have purchased tickets. If all goes to plan, Richard Branson could pave the way for commercial space flights.
After three days of training and medical tests, the space tourists will be strapped into SpaceShipTwo (SS2), a smaller shuttle attached to mother ship WhiteKnightTwo (WK2), and blasted into space. They’ll travel to around 50,000 feet, before SS2 is launched at a speed around three times that of sound. Before long, the engine is cut, and participants can enjoy 20 minutes of zero-gravity.
If it’s only the floating sensation you’re after, a better option is probably a Zero G flight - for a comparably affordable $5,000. In a specially modified Boeing 747, you’ll fly to a height of around 34,000 feet, before the plane dips and rises around 15 times. With each drop, you’ll experience 30 seconds of weightlessness.
But seeing the world from outer space - now that’s an opportunity that may be worth the price tag. Unfortunately you won’t see Australia, only the USA and a bit of Mexico, however you can still enjoy an experience once reserved for astronauts only.
Or if you’re really lucky, you could win a flight through several of Virgin Galactic’s promotions. Sydney man Tim Moran did just that.
“It's not something that's accessible to everyone, and to be given the privilege to access and experience it (space) ... I don't even have words to explain how grateful I will be up there," he told the Telegraph.
The 22-year-old won the competition as part of a Virgin Money offer. All he had to do was write a lame acrostic poem.
“Visualise Incredible Realities Granted I Never Missed Out-on New-opportunities EverydaY (Virgin Money acronym) - the world was my oyster!".
Chances are, a few years down the track, prices will be reduced significantly as competition enters the market. The commercial space-race may bring in new company factions such as iSpace, Google Not-Earth and McSpaceship.
So let’s assess our options. If you have $200,000 lying around, go for it. If you don’t, wait a few years. Or, if you’re an acrostic poetry maestro, get writing. Here’s my entry: Really Intelligent, Charismatic, Handsome And Rich Dude, Blasting Rich Astronauts iNto Space...Oh No!