While the average traveler makes plans to jet off on today's fastest air carriers and charter flights, billionaire Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines is proposing an entirely new flight ? one that take travelers to outer space. The WhiteKnightTwo is the spacecraft carrier that was recently unveiled for a formal flight-test program. The plane will seat up to 250 passengers and would take space enthusiasts at least 7 0 miles above the earth at speeds of up to 3,000 miles per hour. The carbon-composite spaceship makes use of a rocket to blast itself into outer space and reach its maximum speed within 20 seconds.
Space travel may soon be a reality for many outer space enthusiasts, and a trip aboard Virgin's Galactic airlines costs about $200,000. Each flight also offers passengers a chance to experience complete weightlessness for about six minutes.
According to USA Today, Branson and his family will take ?the maiden voyage? on SpaceShipTwo. The launch is scheduled for either 2009 or 2010, and the launching pad for the trip will be built in New Mexico. SpaceShipOne was designed by Burt Rutan, and he is continuing to work with Virgin Galactic to so that it becomes a leader in sub-orbital spacecraft and space tourism for the years ahead.
The concept of space tourism took flight in 2001 when U.S. businessman Dennis Tito took a quick trip into space aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. The trip went straight to the International Space Station, and cost $20 million according to sources at USA Today. Flights for this trip are completely booked through 2009, but now options from Virgin Galactic may make this opportunity a reality for more people interested in space travel. The next generation of space travel consumers may be also be able to pay a fraction of the cost with the future options in space tourism.
