Virgin Galactic - Space Travel

Space Holidays -The Ultimate Travel Experience
Can you 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 first commercial sub-orbital space flight. With fewer than five hundred people having ever been into space, take a Virgin Galactic space flight and you'd be joining a very select group of individuals.

Elegant Resorts is proud to be Virgin Galactic’s only Accredited Space Agent for the UK and our space team have all been to the NASTAR Center.  Before going on to experience for themselves the dynamics of space and the effects of G-force during their sub-orbital space flight simulation, each team member had to undergo the prerequisite medical examinations and practice some of the techniques used by real NASA astronauts that help them handle the effects of space travel . Happy to share their personal experiences of the training, each of the space team are also available to arrange all the elements of your booking. Feel free to call them on 01244 897 003 or email them at space@elegantresorts.co.uk for more details.

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. The training is held at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The day before your space flight, having been issued with a Philipe Starck-designed space suit, you'll board WhiteKnightTwo (WK2), to watch SpaceShipTwo (SS2), carrying the astronauts for that day, launch into space.
On the day of your flight, you will board SS2, berthed into the mother ship WK2 (affectionately known as Eve, named after Richard Branson's mother) with five fellow passengers and two pilots. Whilst your friends and family await your return in the spaceport's lounge, you will fly to 50,000 feet and listen to the countdown for launch. SS2 will then be released and its hybrid rocket motor fire up, vertically accelerating to a speed of Mach 1 in 10 seconds (the speed of sound) and in just 30 seconds to Mach 3.4 (faster than a speeding bullet). After just 90 seconds, the pilots will cut the motor and the spaceship will continue to climb to its peak altitude of 360,000 feet, 68 miles above Earth. At this point you may leave your seat and experience the total silence, float in zero gravity and enjoy views of space and the Earth below from the large windows, for approximately 4-5 minutes. Once everyone has returned to their seats, the spaceship will embark on a thrilling 90 second re-entry, peaking at nearly 6 G's. The spaceship's wings, which have been neatly feathered-up throughout the flight, will rotate back to their usual position to glide everyone safely back to Earth.

The Latest News:
Virgin Galactic's spaceship, VSS Enterprise, has successfully completed its first 'captive carry' test flight, from the Mojave Air and Spaceport, California. VSS Enterprise remained attached to its unique WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, for the duration of the 2 hour 54 minute flight, achieving an altitude of 45,000ft. The first flight of VMS Enterprise is another major milestone in an exhaustive flight testing programme, which started with the inaugural flight of VMS Eve in 2008 and is at the heart of Virgin Galactic's commitment to safety. With both the mother ship, WK2 and SS2 now complete, the test period of between 12 and 18 months starting in 2010 will begin.
As safety is of paramount importance, flights to the public will only launch when deemed safe to do so.
WK2 is the epitome of 21st century aerospace design and technology, representing a giant leap for material technology and has broken all moulds for carbon efficiency. SS2's design has the environment's best interests at heart too and it is expected that C0² emissions per passenger, per space flight will be the equivalent of 60% of that of a return commercial London/New York flight.

Find Out More:
Over three hundred and thirty reservations for the Virgin Galactic flight have been confirmed with over 85,000 people from 125 countries registering 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 have helped pioneer environmentally-aware, civilian 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 NASTAR Sub-Orbital Space Flight Introduction Programme with Elegant Resorts costs from £2450 per person, including three nights accommodation at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, one day at the Sub-Orbital Space Flight Introduction Programme, return economy flights, return private car airport transfers and return private car transfers between the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and NASTAR.

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, or 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