The Final Frontier

Four hundred and fifty people are excitedly counting down the days to becoming the world’s first space tourists. Celebrities, scientists and entrepreneurs, who have paid an astronomical $200,000 each per ticket, will sit side-by-side in groups of six during a two-and-a-half hour ride which will travel 70 miles into the earth’s atmosphere.

Confirmed ticket holders include comedian Russell Brand, Dallas star Victoria Principal, film director Bryan Singer, designer Philippe Starck, and scientist Professor Stephen Hawking. It’s also rumoured that A-list couple Angelia Jolie and Brad Pitt will be buckling up for the world first on board Virgin Galactic’s SpaceshipTwo.

All passengers will undergo a medical and three days training beforehand, including a trial flight simulating zero-gravity conditions.

Preparation will also include being put through a human centrifuge machine that replicates the 3.5G (multiples of gravity) that passengers will encounter as they surge upwards.

The Virgin Galactic flights will take off from a 10,000 foot runway at the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, in New Mexico.