Back in September, two things happened relating to space travel for the private sector. First, I posted about the proposed 2010 opening of Spaceport America in New Mexico. Then, I promised my wife that we would be on a flight into outer space on September 17, 2017. This week, Virgin Galactic officially unveiled their commercial ship, SpaceShip Two.
I nabbed the above image from OhGizmo!, who had this to say:
SpaceShipTwo is designed to ferry 6 civilian passengers and 2 crewmembers 68 miles above the surface of the earth, where they’ll spend a few precious minutes in weightlessness, drinking in the view, before descending back to the ground at a peak force of 6 gravities over 20 seconds. All for just $200,000.
That’s about the price I figured these trips would start at, but barely getting a peek from space for that price is still an “I did that” trip for the super wealthy. This is why I set my proposed travel date to 2017. I figured ten years gives any companies involved plenty of time to get their ducks in a row. By “ducks”, I mean:
- - Work out any kinks so I’m not exploding on launch
- - Find ways to bring the price down
- - Find ways to increase the experience
- - More frequent (convenient) flights
By 2017, I think the experience should be much more substantial, we’ll get to take off from from the new Spaceport America, and the price tag should actually fit within my budget. I feel like a little kid who’s parents just came back with the first of the Christmas presents, only Christmas is still nine and a half years away and I’ll have to pay probably $25,000-$50,000 to open my present. Still, thinking about taking that trip makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Just when I thought I couldn’t be more excited about it, here’s a video simulating what the trip should be like:
So here’s a question for you. Supposing a trip into space on SpaceShip Two in 2017 would cost you $25,000, you had that saved up, and the trip included a full orbit around earth, would you go?
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on January 24th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I would definitely do it, if I was making close to that in at least two months. I couldn’t justify spending half my yearly salary for a small glimpse of space, but damn it would be awesome. I’m right there with you!
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on January 24th, 2008 at 9:08 am
First off, that’s a beautiful spacecraft they have designed. Now to your question. Am sure if I had the money I would love to do space travel, BUT, I’d rather they drop us off on the moon for a day or something in the process. I mean like “man I flew into space and was weightless for an hour!” yeah so BUT “I’ve walked on that moon you’re looking at, and here’s the video if you doubt me”. Now that would be COOOL. Good luck with your plan.
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on January 24th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Jason:I definitely need it to be “affordable” before I’ll be convinced to do it, but that’s part of my ongoing goal: Be able to afford space travel by 2017. I’ll save you a seat.
on January 24th, 2008 at 10:50 am
3rdworldblogger: I couldn’t agree more. I would love if they could take us to the moon by then. There’s been talk over the years about building space hotels and that type of thing on the moon, and I still think that will happen one day and we’ll be able to reserve a room for a weekend on the moon, but I think that’ll be more like 2030 or later.
Of course, if the space flight endeavors really kick into high gear over the next decade, some kind of space hotel concept could be much sooner. After all, we’re supposed to have a freakin’ space port completed and ready for use in 2010, so we’re getting there.
on January 24th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Definitely I would go, its is going to be a great personal experience and one hell of a ride trying to orbit the earth from the outer space…..
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on January 24th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
LiNTEK: I agree on the personal experience. Hopefully such a trip will be available before I’m too old to go.
on January 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Without a doubt – I would go. I think it would be amazing!
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on January 24th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
As someone who was 15 when the original Star Trek show came on TV I would bet that anyone my age who thought that someday we would be able to travel to the planets is going to sign on. As long as it is Virgin Galactic and not Jet Blue….lol. I might not be one of the first to go, but I would go after they got the bugs worked out. ;)
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on January 24th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I never really believed such a thing could happen during my lifetime… Wow! I wonder if I’ll have the nerve (let alone the funds) to buy a ticket for THAT ride?
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on January 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I wouldn’t think twice about it, It would definitely be an experience to remember.
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on January 24th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Simple Mindz: OK.. I’m saving you a seat, too. Hmm. Maybe they’ll seat more than 6 by 2017.
on January 24th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Webduck: I have no idea when Star Trek came out (not much of a fan), but my wife just about grinned her face right off when they showed the Star Trek movie trailer right before Cloverfield.
on January 24th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Les: I don’t want to reach the end of my life having never gone into space if the opportunity becomes available and within reach. Also congrats on the non-smoking bit. I used Chantix to kick the habit and it made it so easy, although I still think about it now and then (4 months, 3 days).
on January 24th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
David: Agreed. I knew I was going as soon as it looked like it would happen in my life time.
on January 25th, 2008 at 1:08 am
joe,
Our Malaysian government just sent our first astronaut to space last year with Russian and NASA and stay for several days at ISS (International Space S?)
They just paid hundred million Ringgit which equal to 20 -30 million dollar for that trip. Of course they did some RnD up there :)
If this Spaceship2 can bring us up there, for only 600 thousand Ringgit, wow
everyone can go to space now..I can be no the 2 MALAYSIAN that go to space
hahahahahah
on January 27th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
This article is bound to get Christian Scientists WAY too excited;)
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on January 27th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Justin: LOL.. Lovely
on February 6th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Yeah, I’d go, but maybe I’d wait until the first space station hotel is built (and tested for kinks & spacebugs & stuff). I probably need to wait 50 more years or so, but that just gives me another reason to sign up as a guinea pig for the dozens of Methuselah projects that’s bound to be out there.
That’s actually a good question:
Would you guys risk horrible, painful death for a chance of extending your lifespan by, say, a factor of ten?
on February 6th, 2008 at 9:20 am
fuubi: I think a space hotel will come much sooner than 50 years. To answer your question… For me, it would depend on the quality of life for those extra 500+ years. If I could be this age for about 450 years, I think that would be OK.