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Space Tourism Details Start to Fill In
Not to steal too much thunder from Erik (who's been blogging about this for some time), but it looks like the details of space tourism are getting clearer.
Virgin Galactic has already collected $200,000 from its first 100 customers, called "founders," for their 150-minute flights on SpaceShipOne. More spots are still open for the next elite group of 400, called "pioneers" ($150,000 down payment). Booking is now also occurring for a third group, called "voyagers" ($20,000 down payment). They hope to put up 500 adventurous folks in the first year of operation: 2009.
Competitor Space Adventures is already off and running, haven taken the first three space tourists to the Space Station ... for a $20 million "base price" apiece.
Finally, Benson Space Company will take you up on their Dream Chaser -- once they complete it -- for between $200,000 and $300,000, hopefully sometime in 2009. Get your $25,000 deposit ready.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
like the plasma tv... Dec 5th 2006 10:22PM
wait a couple of decades and the average joe like me can afford it, too :D that is, of course, if i'm still functional or sane haha.
Vivi Dec 5th 2006 9:53PM
Somehow I like to feel terra firma under my feet. If it's all the same to everyone, I'll pass on the soace trip.
danmorgan Dec 5th 2006 10:31PM
blood or semen? which goes for more? Ill sell all i've got of both for a seat on any "founders","pioneers",or "voyagers" flight. Well not actually what I'd pay but those of us that have dreams of space fights that aren't blessed with stacks of cash to burn need an economy flight too.
manuel Dec 5th 2006 10:41PM
i'll wait until they start having weekly flights to jupiter
Lee A. Paquet Dec 5th 2006 11:04PM
If I won the lottery or inherited a bunch of money I would sign up right away. Otherwise, I'll just have to wait until the price comes down to $2000. Then I might be able to justify the expense..........
Chuck Dec 5th 2006 11:40PM
An interesting Idea... a 150 minute space flight for about $2000 per minute... When it gets down to $1 or $2 per minute... Look me up.... Until then, It's a Thing for Silly Rich people, who have nothing better to spend their money on...
Er-Bear501 Dec 5th 2006 11:56PM
i don't like taking even 1/2 hour commuter flights or 9 hour flights between cities and countries... i'll keep my feet on the ground thank you very much, i can fly in my dreams and thats good enough for me... much safer and alot cheaper!
Tim Dec 6th 2006 12:04AM
I can't wait until the day I get my chance at a flight. I know the price is insane, but what good is life if you can't dream big!!!!!
Lia Dec 6th 2006 12:23AM
Oh My GOSH I would absolutely LOVE to do this! I just wish they'd drop the price !!! I guess I'll have to wait until I win the lottery OR if the price drops to 2000. This is not something a person should pass up...seeing space and seeing earth from a different angle!
Seth Dec 6th 2006 1:06AM
I'm scared of heights!
Mike Dec 6th 2006 1:10AM
John Denver died too soon.
Rich Dec 6th 2006 1:48AM
The most important question....is there a meal on this flight and what is the movie? Do we get a pillow or do we just roll up the blanket?
Ron Dec 6th 2006 2:16AM
It's very ironic because we as children of God couldn't wait till we came to Earth and gain bodies to experience all that God created and now that technology has advanced we want to leave the Earth we couldn't wait to get! What's up with that? There nothing but no air and a bunch of stars will never get to in this life and were never meant to get. If God wanted us to traverse the Universe, He would have given us resurrected bodies first before these mortal bodies! DA, Mortal bodies=Mortal or Earthly existence. We will have all eternity to experience other planets. This is the time to prepare ourselves for that by using Earthlife to sharpen our spiritual and body skllls, that can only be done in an Earthlife existence. We are envied by all extraterestial life because we have these wonderful temporary bodies that no other life form can experience under raw element circumstrances. Get a life! here on Earth folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
adam Dec 6th 2006 2:46AM
THERE'S ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE. AS LONG AS WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH MUCH MORE MONEY THAN BRAIN POWER,THIS SOCIETY, EXCEPT THE "TOP 1%",OF COURSE,WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE SHAME OF POVERTY AND THE TOTAL DISREGARD FOR HUMANITY. I AM DISABLED. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. IT IS SOCIAL SECURITY AND IT IS AN ABSURD PITTANCE THAT I AM EXPECTED TO SURVIVE UPON. WITHOUT LOTS OF HELP,IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SURVIVE ON SS ALONE. I AM PART OF VAST MAJORITY OF THE UNDERPREVELIGED POPULATION THAT HAS TO STRUGGLE AND FIGHT FOR EVERYTHING. THE GOV'T DOESN'T CARE. THEY'D JUST AS SOON SEE US DEAD. THEY EVEN HAVE A NAME FOR IT:"FALLING BETWEEN THE CRACKS".I DO NOT LIKE THE DIRECTION THIS COUNTRY IS TAKING. ONCE,WE WERE THE COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF LIVING IN THE WORLD...EVEN WITH THE HIGH RATE OF POVERTY WE HAD.THE GOV'T CARED AND TRIED ITS' BEST TO HELP.THOSE DAYS ARE NO MORE.TODAY,THE US...THANK YOU,GEORGE BUSH,IS A LAUGHING STOCK BEFORE THE REST OF THE WORLD.I FEAR THINGS WILL BECOME MUCH WORSE BEFORE THEY BECOME BETTER. BUSH STILL HAS OVER A YEAR'S WORTH OF DAMAGE HE CAN MAKE HAPPEN QUITE EASILY.I KNOW THE COUNTRY CAN TAKE IT,BUT CAN WE,ITS'LONG-SUFFERING CITIZENS,"SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS"?I KNOW YOU DON'T GIVE A DARN,MR.BUSH,BUT THINK ABOUT IT THE NEXT TIME YOU AND LAURA SERVE $10,000-A-PLATE DINNERS FOR GOP "FUNDRAISERS".I'M STARTING TO FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH,SO I'LL CLOSE. ADAM
Paul Emken Dec 6th 2006 2:52AM
To all you groundhogs out there we were put on this Earth to learn how to fly so what are you waiting for. Me personaly first chance I get you can count me in or shuold I say "up and out".
Sator Dec 6th 2006 3:33AM
Would be one thing if the flights currently existed...
And what if they don't become space worthy in 2009? Nasa has been at it for decades and yet we still have shuttles blowing up (and mind you they weren't filled with people like a commercial airline flight...)
If I were to go into deep debt and buy a ticket, then not be able to use it would I get my money back? Or will it be a case of "when its space worthy your seat is booked" and my money is gone?
Sorry, but if i'm going to blow that much money its going to be on something a little more current.
Gio Dec 6th 2006 5:23AM
I've been trying to get a response from NASA about sending human corpses or dead animals to Mars. The experiment would try to observe any bacteria or living organisms on Mars to surface. In the meantime I'd like to thank NASA for pursuing JFK's dream of space travel. Our destiny as a civilization can achieve new ways of life and maybe one day cure cancer and other diseases that might affect us. I support the Bush administration as far as NASA is concerned. Holy Bible (Isaiah 40:31) But they that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as a eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
John Jackson Dec 6th 2006 1:36PM
How can you forget Bigelow Aerospace? (http://www.bigelowaerospace.com)
With the possible exception of Virgin Galactic, they're the only ones who have actually gotten something up there, and will offer not just 15 minutes in space, but weeks.
Jim Benson Dec 25th 2006 2:18PM
No, you will not get a blanket or a pillow, but you will get the ride of a lifetime and astronaut wings.
All new high tech opportunities cost a lot in the beginning. It is the early adopters who have a lot of money that cause the volume to go up and the price to go down so the technology can become available to more people at a much lower price.
Onward and upward,
Jim Benson