Washington, August 2 (ANI): The world's first space tourists, including an eclectic mix of celebrities, scientists, and entrepreneurs are set to embark on a two-and-a-half hour space ride costing 200,000 dollars (123,000 pounds).
Despite the cost, over 450 people have signed up for undertaking the space tour to travel 70 miles above Earth.
The tour comprises a series of flights, each having six passenger seats and two pilots.
The tourists include comedian Russell Brand, Dallas star Victoria Principal, film director Bryan Singer, designer Philippe Starck, scientist Professor Stephen Hawking, property developers the Candy brothers, and PayPal developer Elon Musk.
The flights would include 15 minutes in space and a chance to experience weightlessness when the captain makes the announcement: "Ladies and gentlemen, you may now unstrap yourselves and float around the cabin."
Passengers would be surrounded by portholes so that they can enjoy the stunning views for 1500 miles in each direction and down to Earth, similar to the vistas experienced by astronauts on board the International Space Station.
The tourists would undergo a medical test and three- day training, including a trial flight simulating zero- gravity conditions before embarking on a space journey.
They would also be put beforehand through a human centrifuge machine replicating 3.5G (multiples of gravity) that passengers would also encounter as they surge upwards during the tour.
The Virgin Galactic flights will take off from a 10,00 foot runway at the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport in New Mexico.
One of those who has signed up include British racing car engineer Adrian Reynard, who said he was so excited when he heard about the idea that he wrote a cheque to Richard Branson before it was even officially announced.
"I was a child of the first space age. I am fascinated by space. I'm a speed nut and this is the chance of a lifetime", the Sunday Telegraph quoted him, as saying. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
