The new Space Age: $1.45 billion in pledged tickets
Oct 24, 2004 13: 44 EST
$135 million investment renders $1.45 billion in pledged tickets: Welcome to the new Space Age!
Richard Branson, 54, is pouring $135 million into 5 private space crafts, scheduled for 2008.
More than $1.45 billion in tickets has been pledged already. 7,000 people have lined up to pay $210,000 for the trip, Branson told media.
The list includes Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro, William Shatner from Star Trek and a Hollywood director who has booked an entire ship.
"We are extremely pleased because it just means in a sense that the gamble we took seems to have paid off," Branson told UK press. "We have committed £60 million and we have had a tremendous take-up. All indicators are that the risk was worth taking."
In addition to that amount, Virgin has spent £14 million buying the licensing rights to Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne.
Five- or nine-seater spacecraft are being designed which will travel at three times the speed of sound. The journey into space will last around three and a half hours, go 70 miles above the planet, include six minutes of weightlessness and a view of the curvature of the Earth.
On CNN's own poll, 38% out of total 27208 votes (10207 votes) said they'd be willing to pay 200 thousand dollars to go. That's 2 billions for Branson right there.
Despite the interest, Branson said the first flight will be reserved for him and his family - including his father, Ted who will be 90, and his mother 80, reports CNN. Branson's wife is not coming. If the project is a success, Branson will lower the price tag.
Image "Shuttlebucks, courtesy reisereporter.de, Copyright Thomas Haltner.
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