Space Tourism Update

OK, check this out. - from Wired.com/autopia

On a cold and windy night at the Mojave Air and Space Port, the VSS Enterprise was unveiled to the public tonight. Attached to its mother ship, the vehicle better known as SpaceShipTwo is expected to be the first commercial spacecraft when it enters service with Virgin Galactic.

SpaceShipTwo was built by Scaled Composites under the guidance of legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan. Rutan didn’t specify when flight testing for SpaceShipTwo would begin, though it is expected to start early next year.

Sub-orbital passenger flights could start as early as 2011 from Virgin Galactic’s space port in New Mexico which is currently under construction. Tickets for the early adopters are $200,000 for a training program culminating with the ride into space. Both Rutan and Virgin Galactic founder, Sir Richard Branson have repeatedly said they expect the prices to drop rapidly similar to many new technologies, including the early days of air travel.

In our book, we featured the nobox innovator, Burt Rutan, and his bold vision of “Space Tourism.” We have been keeping an eye on his progress and one day this adventure may become common place and affordable for the Gen X’ers and younger. Achieving his feat will not be a cakewalk, but it has clearly moved beyond the realm of far-fetched fantasy into near-term reality.

Amazing what can happen when you cast off the shackles of the box.

Steve