2008 Woodie Awards
Space Tourism
Ian Wells
Issue date: 10/27/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Like so many children, I dreamed and idolized the astronauts who trained and got the lucky opportunity to venture into the reaches of space. I would watch and read about these men and women who would be floating out in space or even living in space on the space station. Movies like Apollo 13 would fill my dreams, though without the horrible disasters.
Although most of us common folk have dreamed and wished to go to space, we face the simple reality, we cannot. Whether we have health, financial, or working issues, many of us will not try or even think twice about these dreams. What if these dreams were not limited by anything but our checkbook?
Virgin Galactic, a new branch of the International company Virgin, bought the rights to improve and build upon Burt Rutan's Space Ship One. Burt Rutan became internationally known when he and his team at Scaled Composites won the Ansari X-Prize for an independently built spacecraft with the ability to launch twice within two weeks to a low earth orbit and return safely.
Virgin Galactic, with Burt Rutan's innovation, has begun construction and testing of a fleet of Space Ship Two's. The fleet will be comprised of five spacecraft and each craft will be able to man seven passengers and two crew members. Each seat ticket will cost $200,000 with a minimum deposit of $20,000. If you are a nerd you will do the math and realize that each flight will make $1.4 million.
According to Sir Richard Branson, owner of Virgin, it will take five years of consistent space flights to start turning a profit on the operation. Although, this seems a long time with each flight producing $1.4 million, the prices are scheduled to decrease within the five years by almost a tenth to $25,000, making time in space even more possible for the dreamers.
The only concern for those who can afford the space flight should be how to pay for the flight, since the safety of the flight should be well tested and ensured by the time the general public is allowed to fly. Virgin Galactic will perform 50 to 100 test flights before the first paying customers are allowed to board Space Ship Two.
The view from miles above the surface of the earth will extend for a 1000 miles in either direction. From over the Mojave desert, one will be able to see to Europe, North Africa, and Russia.
For those who wished upon a star to visit the universe, the first step to their dreams is coming true, rather their dreams are becoming a possibility. Within the next five years an individual with $25,000 will be able to float in low earth orbit for several minutes.
Although most of us common folk have dreamed and wished to go to space, we face the simple reality, we cannot. Whether we have health, financial, or working issues, many of us will not try or even think twice about these dreams. What if these dreams were not limited by anything but our checkbook?
Virgin Galactic, a new branch of the International company Virgin, bought the rights to improve and build upon Burt Rutan's Space Ship One. Burt Rutan became internationally known when he and his team at Scaled Composites won the Ansari X-Prize for an independently built spacecraft with the ability to launch twice within two weeks to a low earth orbit and return safely.
Virgin Galactic, with Burt Rutan's innovation, has begun construction and testing of a fleet of Space Ship Two's. The fleet will be comprised of five spacecraft and each craft will be able to man seven passengers and two crew members. Each seat ticket will cost $200,000 with a minimum deposit of $20,000. If you are a nerd you will do the math and realize that each flight will make $1.4 million.
According to Sir Richard Branson, owner of Virgin, it will take five years of consistent space flights to start turning a profit on the operation. Although, this seems a long time with each flight producing $1.4 million, the prices are scheduled to decrease within the five years by almost a tenth to $25,000, making time in space even more possible for the dreamers.
The only concern for those who can afford the space flight should be how to pay for the flight, since the safety of the flight should be well tested and ensured by the time the general public is allowed to fly. Virgin Galactic will perform 50 to 100 test flights before the first paying customers are allowed to board Space Ship Two.
The view from miles above the surface of the earth will extend for a 1000 miles in either direction. From over the Mojave desert, one will be able to see to Europe, North Africa, and Russia.
For those who wished upon a star to visit the universe, the first step to their dreams is coming true, rather their dreams are becoming a possibility. Within the next five years an individual with $25,000 will be able to float in low earth orbit for several minutes.
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