Virgin Galactic is opening space ticket sales to the public

Starting Feb. 17, you can purchase a ticket to space on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity for $450,000. The fact that a journey beyond the atmosphere will soon be available to the public is indeed quite remarkable. ‘Aerospace and space travel company’ Virgin Galactic announced today it would commence ticket sales on Wednesday, February 16th.

This, the Richard Branson founded enterprise said, would provide the general public an opportunity to purchase one of the initial spaceflight reservations and ‘secure membership in the unique community of Future Astronauts’. Tickets will cost $450,000, A deposit of $150,000 is required to reserve a spot, and anyone willing to front the money can go to the company’s website to begin the application process.Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement on Feb. 15.

The spaceflight will last for 90 minutes. Virgin Galactic says it will include a ‘signature air launch’ and a Mach-3 boost into space. The flight will offer moments of weightlessness as the spaceship turns around to provide customers with views of the earth through all of the 17 windows on VSS Unity.

It will launch from Spaceport America in the Jornada del Muerto desert in New Mexico, following several days of training for the would-be spacefarers. The astronaut-specific training program comes with ‘world-class amenities’, and customers will be allowed to bring guests – space camp for the rich and famous.