From next year onward Virgin Galactic (VG) is preparing to take tourists to space. The good news was announced by the VG on its site by giving its title “Mission Accomplished ” after the test of the spacecraft. The vacation will be one of its kind, promises excellent views and crowd less setting as the flight will be affordable to only a few. The vacation package offers suborbital flights of two and a half hours in which we can see the Earth from 110 kilometers altitude. While travelling from the base to the outside and back and tourists will be given five minutes of zero gravity experience to enjoy.
The spacecraft tested was named as the SpaceShipTwo and was a California based. Sources from the company said that the craft was tested with crew on board. The third test fight was completed on Thursday with two pilots on board. This was the first time the test was conducted with crew on board to check any faults with the technical operations. The test flight lasted six years and twelve minutes, the tests were conducted over the Mojave Deserts. “SpaceShipTwo” was attached to a special plane called “White Knight” that future tourist space travel will be tasked with transporting the vehicle to a certain height and them the craft will be freed to carry on its travel. White Knight has already developed a total of 33 successful flights since it began its testing program a few years ago.
The space travel will become a reality for many from 2011 as per the company. Since the project was announced a few years ago, Virgin already has a list of reservations for suborbital flights. A total of three hundred people are interested in taking the vacation and are ready to spend 140,000 euros for the two and a half year flight. The future of such travel is however uncertain as after the very few travelers who can spend the amount what will be the travel of any use. The company will have to lower the cost of travel or engage the craft in some other purpose.