The Virgin Galactic space tourism company has announced the dates for its inaugural commercial suborbital space flight.
The initial flight is scheduled to take place June 27-30, and will carry three members of the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy. The crew will conduct research into microgravity during the flight.
This will be followed by a flight open to members of the public early in August. Thereafter, the company is hoping to schedule monthly space flights for anyone who can afford it.
“We are launching the first commercial spaceline for Earth with two dynamic products – our scientific research and private astronaut space missions,” said Virgin Galactic CEO, Michael Colglazier.
The initial tickets for the public were priced at US$200 000 (R3 653 300) each, and Virgin Galactic has managed to sell 800 of these tickets over the last decade. However, the current price for a single space flight ticket has inflated to US$450 000 (R8 219 925).
The Virgin Galactic space flights will launch and land at Spaceport America in Mexico, and will take passengers almost 100km above earth for a 90-minute experience, including five minutes of weightlessness and extraordinary views of Earth.
