sponsored motoring ford-future-sessions future-of-science 8206399 ----- # Virgin space tourism ## What's in store for the rich and famous when Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo undertakes its maiden voyage? ![A computer-generated image of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo in flight. ][1] Image 1 of 3 A computer-generated image of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo in flight. ![A passenger enjoys the view of Earth from Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo. ][2] Image 1 of 3 A passenger enjoys the view of Earth from Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo. ![Seats on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo will be fully reclined.][3] Image 1 of 3 Seats on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo will be fully reclined. 1:29PM GMT 16 Dec 2010 A flight aboard Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo costs $200,000. And, while a few of its passengers may be young, fit billionaires, it's likely that many will be closer to the "fat cat" category. So how will those arteries, clogged by years of foie gras and champagne, cope with the rigours of space travel? When SpaceShipTwo is dropped from its White Knight launch vehicle at 50,000ft, there will be a moment of weightlessness before its hybrid rocket engine fires, propelling the craft to 2,500mph in just a few seconds, and letting passengers experience an acceleration of four times the force of gravity. During the suborbital section of the two-and-a-half-hour flight, there'll be next to no gravity at all, and these first space tourists will be able to leave their seats, float around the cabin and enjoy the view of the Earth below. But the biggest concern will be the descent. To ease the burden of re-entry passengers' seats will be fully reclined, and, rather than the "snap g" associated with rollercoasters, there will be a gradual build-up, so Virgin Galactic doesn't anticipate its customers blacking out and missing the last part of their pricey trip. As a precaution every passenger will spend three days at Space Camp, undergoing medical screening. So far 81 potential spacemen and women aged from 22 to 88 have undergone these tests, and 93 per cent passed. That's good news for those whose rich tastes may have led to some physical expansion. More foie gras for the in-flight meal, perhaps? [X][4] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz [What are these?][5] * Share: [Share][4] [ ][6] [ ][7] [Tweet][8] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/motoring/ford-future-sessions/future-of- science/8206399/Virgin-space-tourism.html Telegraph ## [Future of science][9] * ### [Sponsored »][10] * ### [Motoring »][11] * ### [Ford Future Sessions »][12] [X][4] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! 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