Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company run by Sir Richard Branson, is offering new tickets for sale to fly aboard its USS Unity suborbital plane. The cost of a few minutes of zero gravity for new customers will be much higher than before, and they may have to wait a while before they can enjoy it.
If you're hoping to buy a ticket to space (by US standards) aboard one of Virgin Galactic's space planes, you'll probably wish you had bought one there seven years ago. The company has just announced the reopening of the ticket office for its flights allowing you to enjoy a view of the Earth and the darkness of space at an altitude of more than 80 km for approximately four minutes. The starting price:450,000 dollars . In 2014, the price of these tickets was $200,000.
Ticket sales for customers wishing to fly with Virgin Galactic had been closed since the fatal crash in 2014, in which the SpaceShipTwo plane crashed into the Mojave Desert (one pilot had died, while another, injured, had been transferred to the hospital).
That is why, in order to prove his confidence in the safety of the new vehicle, Richard Branson was present during the successful mission on July 11, during which he flew away with three other employees of the company. This mission, called Unity 22, was therefore a key step in testing the rocket plane before Virgin could begin flying individual customers.
The next mission should take place at the end of September. Named Unity 23, it will carry scientific payloads and three members of the Italian Air Force. This will still be a test flight, but eventually missions like these (for research purposes) will cost even more ($600,000).
Potential customers who are likely to pay at least $450,000 for a seat will have to wait in line. Virgin Galactic would have already sold more than 600 tickets in 2014. All these people will therefore have to fly first, by 2022/2023. Also, about 1000 potential customers have already made $1000 deposits to fly as well. They will therefore be next in the waiting list.
Still, even taking into account the wait time and exorbitant ticket prices, Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, expects customers knock on the door. " We believe this experience is so unique and fascinating that it will lead to multiple repeat experiences with friends and family in multiple spaceports around the world ", he said.
