Press Release Summary = Elegant Resorts have been appointed the only travel company in the UK, Russia and CIS to sell Virgin Galactic manned travel into space.
Press Release Body = Elegant Resorts have been appointed the only travel company in the UK, Russia and CIS to sell Virgin Galactic manned travel into space.
This exciting project was originally funded by Paul Allen - co-founder of Microsoft, and the spaceships have been designed and built by Burt Rutan and Scaled Composites in Mojave, California. Virgin became involved by means of a joint venture between themselves and Scaled Composites, and will operate the spaceships.
The test flights will start in 2008, and the first flight is envisaged to take place approx 12-18 months later depending on testing.. this will only happen when Burt and Virgin believe it's safe enough.
The flights will initially go once a week, carrying 6 passengers and 2 pilots, and then the plan is to get to daily flights and then double-daily flights as soon as possible, but this will depend upon the take-up. The cost will be USD 200,000. The first 100 lucky people to fly are called Founders and although they will pay the full fare - these places are by private invitation from Virgin Galactic. The next 400 people to go are called Pioneers and will have to pay a deposit ranging from USD 100,000 to USD 175,000. Finally, the Voyagers will fly - paying a deposit of USD 20,000 to secure their seat. There has been enormous interest to date in the project, and over 70,000 people from 125 countries have registered interest in becoming an astronaut.
The experience includes 3 days of preparation, medical checks. bonding and G force acclimatization (all part of the overall cost) and then the excitement begins!
The spaceship is carried up to 50,000 feet by the purpose built aircraft, WhiteKnight 2, before they clear from each other; and the spaceship ignites and shoots into space - literally faster than a speeding bullet. Passengers will be pinned to their seats by gravity for 90 seconds whilst the craft climbs to beyond the 62 mile altitude that marks the threshold of space.
At this point, the sky changes from blue to black, and the pilot turns the engine off to silence and weightlessness. The spacious cabin has large windows and passengers are able to leave their seats and float in G zero, and marvel the view of space around them and the earth below stretching for around 1,000 miles in any direction - the craft climbs a little more before the earth begins to pull them back..
For further enquiries and information please call Elegant Resorts on 01244 897 003. Full package prices will be available in due course. See also
Web Site = http://www.elegantresorts.co.uk
Contact Details = Media Contact Elegant Resorts Press Office Sue Bowen-Jones Tel: 01244 897157 E-mail: sue.bowen-jones@elegantresorts.co.uk
2012
