I found this video yesterday on an astronomy site, soon there will be a commercial spaceline created called Virgin Galactic. If you got the $ (im guessing thousands and thousands of dollars) you could be an astronaut.

YouTube - Your Journey Into Space Starts Here.mov

I have heard about this here and there but never really heard that it was really going to happen. When I first saw this video yesterday, I had a emotional breakdown. I love environmental science and astronomy (my 2 fav things). I have always thought it would be amazing to orbit the Earth, but never really thought I would ever be able to do it. I know it will cost a fortune to do it, but maybe once I get a little older and finish college, maybe I will be able to do it. I have added this to my maximum priority list of things I want to do in my lifetime.

Old(-ish) news, but interesting... I'd love to go into space, but doubt it will be affordable in my lifetime

I actually followed all the test flights and news for a good two years. I like the idea but it's going to be tough keeping that business afloat. Especially when it costs $$$$$$$ to use it.

I'd definitely take up the opportunity if it was free, or if I was $$$$.

I'll get me tickets some day

Virgin Galactic will not be orbital. It's just up and down. The whole ride is only a few minutes in "space." Getting into orbit is a whole different set or requirements. However, it should be a good deal safer than orbit. Is it worth the $100,000 dollars (or more) that they will want for a ride? I don't think so. I have a feeling that orbital flights will be available sometime in the future, but they will be well over a million.

Yeah... it's a bit disappointing for what it actually is

Sure, It's not too good for passenger flights. But as a commercial spaceline...

They could open up so many opportunities for Earth, and the buisnesses that fill it's commercial areas. Products (and people) could be transported miles in a matter of minutes, all in a safe environment. Commercial spaceports could become more than just a dream in major cities. They could become massive centres of commerce, massive tourist attractions, and even the starting points for interstellar research and exploration.

Sounds good to me.

Sounds good until you realise that it doesn't actually even reach low orbit. It's not the kind of 'seeing the whole of Earth from a distance' that we all dream about
Real spaceflight is too far away, still...

Just bumping the thread a bit...

Here is their official site:
Welcome | Virgin Galactic

Current collateral is $20.000 and the ticket itself is $200.000 when the time comes. They also said prices will drop immensely as time passes, so best chance is to simply wait a bit

Here are some vids...







And here is a test flight which happened 14 days ago:






I personally can't wait for this...

Oh, and it definitely reaches low orbit

It doesn't - it's suborbital, a high trajectory that reaches an altitude high enough to lose the effect of gravity.
Impressive in its own right, but personally, I want to see Earth shrinking in the rear window

Me too...

That's not my point.

My point is that the speed in which they could travel would easily surpass the greatest aircraft of the modern age.

Travel to Mars in 39 Days? : Discovery News

Depressing to think it's been almost 38 years (long before I was born) since anyone has gone far enough to see the whole Earth.

It's not the altitude but the trajectory. Earth's gravity is almost as strong at 100km altitude as it is on the ground. The passengers will float because they're in free-fall- just like astronauts in orbit or the unlucky occupant of a plummeting lift in an airless lift-shaft.


They want to acheive altitudes over 100km so they can cross this line:

Kármán line - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia