Stars Reach for the Stars

Ashton Kutcher became the 500^th person to place a deposit with Virgin Galactic to take a visit into space.  According to Richard Branson, Kutcher is “thrilled.”  Kutcher is part of the growing list of celebrities that are getting in line to blast off with Virgin Galactic.  According to reports by RedOrbit.com, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Katy Perry will be exploring space as well.

The flight will give astronaut tourists to an altitude of 68 miles into the atmosphere, where passengers will experience zero gravity for a few minutes.  Tickets are $200,000, requiring a $20,000 deposit.  Flights are expected to take off in 2013 or 2014. 

Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/kutcher-puts-down-deposit-for-virgin-galactic-space-ride-becomes-ventures-500th-customer/2012/03/19/gIQAJiM6NS_story.html

http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112498659/ashton-kutcher-buys-500th-virgin-galactic-ticket/

Interested in teaching your students more about space science? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Space Science – Everyday Astronauts.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about space science? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Virgin Galactic Test Flight

Virgin Galactic aims to conduct its first test flight by the end of 2012.  The first commercial suborbital passenger flight is proposed to take place in 2013 or 2014. 

Almost 500 customers have purchased tickets to ride into space on the six-passenger spaceship, SpaceShipTwo.  Tickets cost $200,000.  The spaceship reaches an altitude around 68 miles into our atmosphere.  Passengers will experience a few minutes of zero gravity, and will be able to see Earth against the blackness of space. 

Source:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/space-business-idUSL2E8DS0M920120228

Interested in teaching your students more about space science? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Space Science – Everyday Astronauts.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about space science? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Getting Away From it All – Literally

Russia is on schedule with launching an orbital hotel, large enough to accommodate seven guests, in 2016.  Travelers will eat space food, take sponge baths, and have vacuum toilets because of the zero-gravity environment.  The orbital hotel will orbit 217 miles above Earth’s surface, and will cost $1 million for five days.

Adding to the growing list of space tourism companies, RKK’s ventures will also include the dark side of the moon, and Mars in 2030.  Russia will not begin selling seats until 2013 since US and European astronauts will be hitching rides to the International Space Station until that point. 

Source:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/19/us-russia-space-tourism-idUSTRE77I21720110819