For $200K, you can travel in space..... for 5 min!

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by wind2000, Feb 21, 2008.

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wind2000 Self Schemata

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By Reuters
Published: February 21, 2008, 7:24 AM PST
Virgin Galactic orders more spaceships

Virgin Galactic, the space travel venture of billionaire Richard Branson's, is ordering five more spaceships and aims to turn a profit in five years after its commercial launch in 2010.

Prospective space travelers have so far placed deposits totaling more than $31 million for tickets that cost $200,000 each and will give them five minutes in space, Alex Tai, the company's group director, said Thursday in an interview at the Singapore Airshow.

"In the short term, we have firm orders for five spaceships and options for seven...We believe there is a very strong market," Tai said.

About 80,000 people from 120 countries have shown interest in these commercial space flights, which are likely to start in 2010. Seriously interested travelers are asked to deposit at least $20,000, according to Virgin Galactic's Web site. "It's silly to divide the $200,000 by that five minutes. It really is a life-time experience," Tai said.

Virgin, which aims to be the first to take paying passengers into space on a regular basis, will invest $250 million in the space program, Tai said.

He declined to give the cost of each craft or the maker, though some parts will come from Pratt & Whitney, the jet engine unit of United Technologies Corp

Asked when the company would become profitable, Tai said: "I imagine it will be inside the first five years."

Virgin's SpaceShipTwo, unveiled last month and to be tested later this year, will be able to carry eight people into suborbital space. Virgin aims to start with one flight a week before ramping it up to 14 flights a week, Tai said.

For $200,000, Virgin will prepare space travelers over three days for their two-hour flight beyond Earth's atmosphere that will culminate in five minutes in space. The three-day program will include simulating a zero-gravity environment, showing travelers what it means to accelerate and decelerate quickly, as well as what the Earth looks like from space, Tai said. The spaceship will initially be launched from Mojave, Calif., but will eventually take off from a space port in New Mexico.

Virgin Galactic is one of several high-profile contenders in the new commercial space race.

Others include Astrium, the space arm of European aerospace firm EADS; Blue Origin, started by Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos; Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), created by PayPal founder Elon Musk; and Bigelow Aerospace, a venture aimed at creating space hotels, started by hotelier Robert Bigelow.

The leader in the budding sector is Virginia-based Space Adventures, which started the space tourism phenomenon in 2001 when it put U.S. businessman Dennis Tito on a Russian Soyuz craft for a reported $20 million.

http://www.news.com/Virgin-Galactic-orders-more-spaceships/2100-11397_3-6231476.html?tag=cd.top
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Dont i wish to be one of those eccentric peep.

#1 wind2000, Feb 21, 2008
khaotic Fobulous

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I would love to go into space, even if it was for only 5 minutes. Too bad I'm not filthy rich.

#2 khaotic, Feb 21, 2008
uryu Well-Known Member

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if i had the money i would but i'd rather buy a bentley for a life time of happiness instead of 5min :x

#3 uryu, Feb 21, 2008
shw Well-Known Member

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200 k is nothing to some ppl

but some may never even see 2 dollars in their lifetime

here in amsterdam a lot of ppl go spacing. not for 200 k though

#4 shw, Feb 21, 2008
kandyman Member

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too rich for my blood!!

#5 kandyman, Feb 21, 2008
tiffer858 Well-Known Member

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dang i want to go into space but not that loaded with cash

#6 tiffer858, Feb 21, 2008
bobby18121 Member

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200k is a waste of money and time. in space, it think its just some dark place right, the view when looking out of a plane with clouds under you is much better and its doesnt even cost that much compared to 200k

#7 bobby18121, Feb 21, 2008
bbes Incredible

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it would be fun but if i had 200k i wouldn't do it though. its still a lof of money and its prob better off being given off to charity.

#8 bbes, Feb 21, 2008
khaotic Fobulous

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bobby18121 said: ↑

200k is a waste of money and time. in space, it think its just some dark place right, the view when looking out of a plane with clouds under you is much better and its doesnt even cost that much compared to 200k
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But I'm sure the passengers will at least be able to catch a view of the earth.

To be able to see the earth from space... I can't imagine how breathtaking that would be.

#9 khaotic, Feb 21, 2008
master_g .

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if everyone on PA chips in (like $10 each) then ill give it a go, ill keep the change too .

#10 master_g, Feb 21, 2008
mr_evolution ( • )( •ԅ(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

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I'll buy a lambo and it will last me for years!

#11 mr_evolution, Feb 22, 2008
lee-lee Well-Known Member

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ummmm..no thanks...rather buy shoes.

#12 lee-lee, Feb 22, 2008
shw Well-Known Member

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lee-lee said: ↑

ummmm..no thanks...rather buy shoes.
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hhhhaha how many pairs is that with 200 K

#13 shw, Feb 22, 2008
mr_evolution ( • )( •ԅ(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

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Or one expensive pair of shoes!

#14 mr_evolution, Feb 22, 2008
zero_c Well-Known Member

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mr_evolution said: ↑

Or one expensive pair of shoes!
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A cobra guards a pair of ruby, sapphire and diamond sandals at Harrods department store in central London. Designer Rene Caovilla's sandals are valued at 62,000 pounds (91,234 euros, 125,872 dollars)

Last September 10, 2007 , it was announced on national television about cobra to guard $120,000 shoes. But why cobra? Maybe because cobra is so dangerous, poisonous and you cannot touched things that is special to them. For me, it is interesting to know about that and another question, but why that shoes is so special to high society owners and to all! Maybe because, that shoes is so precious because it is made of ruby , sapphire, diamonds and the cost is so expensive.

At the London Harrods, Rene Caovilla says that retailer went to extreme lengths and they used Egyptian cobra to guard the shoe counter.

According to security experts, hiring a poisonous snake is the most effective means of guarding precious footwear .

A spokeswoman for Harrods admitted that the cobra had been hired strictly for Monday as launch of the shoe collection.
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You mean this one?

#15 zero_c, Feb 22, 2008
mr_evolution ( • )( •ԅ(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

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Does it come with the cobra?

#16 mr_evolution, Feb 22, 2008
kontradictions Well-Known Member

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mr_evolution said: ↑

I'll buy a lambo and it will last me for years!
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Lol, no you wont. -lol

Exotic cars are like tissue paper origami; very elegant yet very delicate.

#17 kontradictions, Feb 22, 2008
xmichelly Well-Known Member

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yeah ... because i just have $200K lying around ..
i want to go to space .. D:

#18 xmichelly, Feb 22, 2008
mr_evolution ( • )( •ԅ(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

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kontradictions said: ↑

Exotic cars are like tissue paper origami; very elegant yet very delicate.
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Origami Lamborghini?

#19 mr_evolution, Feb 22, 2008
ManicFreak Well-Known Member

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It's pretty cool to go in space... that is if they don't get blow up to pieces during ascend to space.

#20 ManicFreak, Feb 23, 2008

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