Fly Around the Moon with Space Adventures

Got an extra $100 million lying around? Check under your mattress, break open the piggy bank, you'll find it. Alas, I neglected yesterday to post about this story I read in the New York Times about a company that is offering space flights around the moon.

Remember Dennis Tito, the stocky, uber-tycoon that became the world's first space tourist? Well, Space Adventures, the same company that shot him into the ether says they will be offering a trip that goes a bit further. Yesterday they unveiled an agreement with Russian space officials to send two passengers on a voyage lasting 10 to 21 days that might take them around the moon. Wha?! You mean we might be able to listen to Dark Side of the Moon as it passes below us? Holy Swiss cheese, Gromit!

Check out the video on the company's Web site (apparently they should have a little chat with the boys at ILM). The company's chief executive, Eric Anderson, said blast off might happen as early as 2008. He also said that a few potential clients have already approached him about taking the trip (yes, Mr. Gates, you can pay with Microsoft stock. No, Mr. Gates you can't do hand wings out the window, I'm sorry).

I've just written a note to my credit card company to see if they'll up my maximum balance.

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