For those travelers who feel like they have done it all, a new out-of-this-world opportunity will soon be available--for a price. On June 19, New Mexico unveiled plans for the nation's first commercial spaceport, Spaceport America. The spaceport, estimated to be completed by 2010, would take travelers up 50,000 feet, break out of the Earth's atmosphere, and then fly up to 62 miles above the Earth.The $200 million project is being fronted by the state of New Mexico in hopes of creating jobs and increasing tourism. The spaceport will work with Virgin Galactic, who will supply the space vehicles. Spaceport America is anticipating launching one Virgin Galactic flight per week, and each will hold six passengers.
If you want to be on one of the tours, you will have to add your name to the waiting list of over 45,000 other travelers, and be willing to dish out $200,000. Passengers must also attend three days of training to prepare for the trip. The total travel time is around two hours with five minutes of weightlessness.
What do you think? Is the flight worth the price?
[Spaceport America]
Photo Courtesy of Spaceport America
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This article amazes me. First of all it's incredible that such a thing is going to be a reality in the very near future. But also, I'm shocked that there are 45,000 people in the world who can afford/are willing to pay $200,000 for a two hour trip, with a mere five minutes of weightlessness. That same money could pay for an amazing trip around the globe, and still leave thousands upons thousands to give back to the community. With so many incredible places to see here on earth, I don't think we need to be in any rush to go out into space as tourists.
Thank you for the comment Emma. It is amazing. Could these people possibly have seen all there is to see? It is incredible to think that this journey is now a reality. I suppose that paying for this trip may be about being one of the first and select few to have the experience. You bring up interesting points.
Emma, there are a lot of crazy people in this world, including me, and a lot of them are really willing to spend that much, and that is one of the reasons that the cruise ship was born... :) now, this.. :) I will be writing a tip about this one in http://www.baraaza.com/contest/ and see if anyone is interested :D
I wonder what the carbon offsetting would look like for a trip like this.
You bring up an interesting point. According to Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn's calculations, carbon dioxide emissions per passenger on a Virgin Galactic spaceflight would be about 60 percent of a passenger's carbon footprint on a round-trip flight between New York and London.
Side Note-- According to BBC, the number of people on this $200,000 list is now over 250.
Emma
Carbon offsetting this kind of travel would probably already have the total cost of building a small forest...
Hello,
i had seen the photo its to beautiful and amazing for the tourist people to attract. I had never seen this type of beautiful place anywhere and then Galactic Vacation is spaceport and unworthful of price for getting a clear picture.
Regards,
johnsmith
Zenith Watches
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2009/07/for-those-travelers-who-feel.html
Initially I was very much exiting on reading the article. I am in one of the crazy persons wanted to have such experience,but I think the price is not worth the trip. At this price only those who are having millions of dollars getting wasted in their bank accounts will go!!
It is amazing to fly 62 miles above the earth atmosphere with weightlessness. I can understand it will be an incredible experience, but the price is very shocking for a two hour trip.