|
The Background
On December 7th, 2006, Virgin Galactic appointed Timothy J. Krenzien CTC, ASA as one of only forty four travel agencies in North America to become an accredited space agent. This prestigious distinction allows Paul Klein Travel to sell voyages to space on Virgin Galactic. Tim Krenzien CTC, ASA has made a five year commitment to Virgin Galactic and has undergone an extensive training process that has included classes at the Kennedy Space Center, a weightless Zero-G parabolic flight, and meetings with Burt Rutan and his crew at the Scaled Composites aerospace development center where the spacecraft are being built. Only ASAs are authorized to sell tickets on Virgin Galactic sub-orbital flights.
The Experience
Virgin Galactic’s sub-orbital space trips promise to be the most intense and wonderful experiences that passengers have ever had. Astronauts over past 45 years have all returned to earth struggling to convey the enormity of what they have discovered and with their perceptions clearly changed. To be able to extend that privilege to people from all walks of life has been a long held ambition at Virgin. To date more than 300 tickets have been sold
Astronauts will spend 2 to 3 days training at the Virgin Galactic New Mexico Spaceport before embarking on their sub-orbital flight, although the first flights will depart from the Mojave Spaceport. You will fly in the Virgin Galactic Enterprise SpaceShipTwo (SS2) designed and built by Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites and based on SpaceShipOne which completed 3 sub-orbital flights and won the X Prize in 2004.
Virgin Galactic Enterprise will be carried by a revolutionary mothership called Virgin Galactic Eve WhiteKnightTwo. She will climb to a height of around 50,000 feet (approximate cruising altitude of Concorde) where SS2 will be released before firing her rockets and accelerating in a vertical climb reaching a speed of 3.3 mach. Shortly afterward SS2 will slow to allow you to enjoy zero g and continue to climb to a total altitude of 110km or 360,888 feet – that’s 10 kilometers or 33,000 feet into space! After enjoying some of the most spectacular views and sensations ever experienced by humankind, the wings of the spacecraft will feather to allow a safe re-entry at around 6 g’s. After re-entry the wings will re-configure to allow a gentle glide back to the spaceport. Upon your return to Earth, you will have earned your Astronaut Wings.
The Cost
The current cost is US$200,000. There are three deposit options that determine your launch priority and level of participation with Virgin Galactic.
Founders
Founders will take the first 100 commercial seats. They will be among the first private astronauts to launch a brand new industry. In order to guarantee one of these first 100 seats we are asking for payment of the full projected ticket price of US$200,000 as an up-front (but fully refundable) deposit. In return for this significant commitment we offer our Founders a high degree of involvement in the project as it progresses; to meet with its key proponents and to provide ideas and feedback to help Virgin Galactic get the details right. Founder seats are sold so are reservations are being taken on a waitlist basis only.
Pioneers
Pioneers will gain their Virgin Galactic astronaut wings after Founders. Comprising 400 individuals, all of whom can expect to be amongst the first 1000 humans in space and to fly within Virgin Galactic’s first year of operation. Pioneers are being asked to secure a numbered seat reservation by paying an up-front deposit as follows…
US$200,000 to be among seat numbers 1 to 100 SOLD OUT
US$175,000 to be among seat numbers 101 to 199 SOLD OUT
US$150,000 to be among seat numbers 200 to 299 CLOSE TO SELL OUT
US$125,000 to be among seat numbers 300 to 399
US$100,000 to be among seat numbers 400 to 500
Voyagers
Voyagers are those who share in the enthusiasm for private space travel but who are less concerned about being amongst the first to go. Voyagers are vital to the sustainability of the business and our ability to reduce ticket prices over time. Virgin Galactic is asking for a 10% deposit of US$20,000 to secure a numbered seat reservation in this category and expect to start flying this group during the second year of operation.
|