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Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Welcome to the World’s First Spaceport! Richard Branson Opens $209 Million Terminal

Author:    
Source:     Mail (U.K.)
Publication Date:     7:21 AM on 18th October 2011
 Link: Welcome to the World’s First Spaceport! Richard Branson Opens $209 Million Terminal
Stephan:   At first this story may not seem a trend, just an event. But think: Richard Branson has made himself a multi-billionaire by correctly assessing markets and positioning himself to be the first to take advantage of their emergence. He would not build a space port, and a fleet of space ships for passengers paying $200,000 a pop if he didn't believe the market was there to support such a venture. And what does one get for $200,000: 'The two-and-a-half-hour flights will include about five minutes of weightlessness and views of Earth that until now only astronauts have been able to experience.' From which we may conclude that while about 20 per cent of the American workforce is either out of work, or with only partial work, and millions more feel great financial stress, there are enough multimillionaires and billionaires who can pay six figures for a two and a half hour thrill ride that they will fill Branson's space ship seats, and use his space port. Can the disparity of wealth be made any clearer?

It is the luxury terminal where wealthy tourists will blast into orbit for $200,000 per return trip.

And Virigin’s new space terminal in the New Mexico desert looked suitbaly futuristic as it was unveield yesterday.

The building will house Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft, mission control and a preparation area for travellers when flights begin sometime after the end of 2012.

With his usual flair, British billionaire Richard Branson rappelled from a balcony, shook up a big bottle of champagne and took a swig while christening the building.

HOW WILL SPACE TOURISM WORK?

Ticket cost: The starting price for flights is $200,000 with refundable deposits starting from $20,000
Training: Passengers are required to go through a ‘Pre-Flight Experience Program’, including three days of pre-flight preparating onsite at the spaceport to ensure passengers are physically and mentally fit to fly
Once aboard: SpaceShipTwo will carry six passengers and two pilots. Each passenger gets the same seating position with two large windows – one to the side and one overhead. The space ship is 60ft long with a 90in diameter cabin allowing maximum room for the astronauts to float in zero gravity
Flight […]

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