Space holidays: The ultimate travel experience
Imagine floating in zero gravity, looking at a thousand-mile view of planet Earth below and infinite space all around. What has, until now, been a science fiction fantasy for civilians is set to become reality when Virgin Galactic launches its non-commercial suborbital spaceflights.
What to expect
The Virgin Galactic space experience starts with three days of medical checks and training covering safety procedures and all aspects of space travel, including G-Force acclimatisation. This will initially take place at Virgin Galactic’s base in the Mojave Desert. On the day of the flight astronauts will board SpaceShipTwo (SS2) which will then be hitched to the ‘mothership’, WhiteKnightTwo (WK2), which will fly SS2 to 50,000 feet where it will be airlaunched. After accelerating to a speed of Mach 3.3 in just 30 seconds in a vertical ascent, SS2 will slow to reach 110km into space, at which point passengers may leave their seat to float in zero gravity and enjoy views of space and the Earth below from the large windows. To read more about the experience please click here
The Latest News
The mothership has arrived. Virgin Founder, Sir Richard Branson and SpaceShipOne designer, Burt Rutan, have introduced the new WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft that will ferry SpaceShipTwo and thousands of private astronauts on the first stage of the Virgin Galactic sub-orbital space experience. More...
The mothership, WK2, is now complete and ready for testing, while spaceship SS2 is 60% complete and is scheduled to be ready for a test period of between 12 and 18 months in 2009. As safety is of paramount importance, flights to the public will only launch when deemed safe to do so.
In addition WK2 represents a giant leap for a material technology and is a mould breaker in carbon efficiency and the epitome of 21st century aerospace design and technology. SS2’s design has the environment’s best interests at heart too and it is expected that C0² emissions per passenger per spaceflight will be equivalent of 60% of that of a return commercial London/New York flight.
Find Out More
Over 250 reservations for the Virgin Galactic flight have been confirmed and over 85,000 people from 125 countries have registered their interest. The Virgin Galactic Experience costs US$200,000 per seat (flights, accommodation and transfers are extra) – a modest sum for a truly once in a lifetime trip with the added satisfaction of knowing that you will have helped pioneer cheap and environmentally-aware space travel.
Not sure if it’s for you? Why not try before you buy on a simulated flight – a fabulous experience in its own right – at the NASTAR® Center in Philadelphia.
The 1 day NASTAR Sub-Orbital Space Flight Introduction Programme with Elegant Resorts costs from £2450 per person, including 3 nights’ accommodation at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, the Sub-Orbital Space Flight Introduction Programme, return economy flights, return private car airport transfers as well as return private car transfers between the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and NASTAR.
Click here to read a report from the Elegant Resorts Space Team
Elegant Resorts is proud to be Virgin Galactic’s only Accredited Space Agent for the UK. To book your Virgin Galactic or NASTAR center experience, and for further information about space travel with Virgin Galactic click to register for email updates, or contact the Elegant Resorts Space Team on 01244 897 003 or space@elegantresorts.co.uk
