From Virgin Galactic to SpaceX, many private space firms are racing to be the first to launch tourists into space .
Now, Virgin Galactic has taken a major step ahead of the competition, after it successfully powered up its SpaceShipTwo spaceplane.
Virgin Galactic’s manufacturing subsidiary, The Spaceship Co, completed the test on the spacecraft, which is being assembled in Mojave, California.
The Spaceship Co tweeted: “This test verified the foundation of the electrical system of the new spaceship and means we can start verification of the onboard electrical subsystems in preparation for its first flight.”
SpaceShipTwo is a six-passenger spaceplane, that’s designed to carry passing customers into suborbital space.
The vehicle is carried to an altitude of about 50,000 feed by a plane known as WhiteKnightTwo, before being released and firing up its own onboard rocket motor.
However, to be one of the first tourists to venture into space, you’ll have to splash the cash – a ride on SpaceShipTwo costs a staggering £194,000 ($250,000)!
Despite this eye-watering price tag, more than 600 people have already reserved a seat to date, according to Virgin Galactic.
A ticket to ride SpaceShipTwo costs $250,000, and more than 600 people have reserved a seat to date, Virgin Galactic representatives have said.
On its website, Virgin Galactic wrote: “Our initial operations will give us unequalled experience of flying large numbers of non-professional astronauts, safely and enjoyably, in high acceleration and micro-gravity environments.
“In time, we expect to be operating a variety of vehicles from multiple locations to cater for the demands of the growing space-user community.
“Whether that be transporting passengers to Earth orbiting hotels and science laboratories, or providing a world-shrinking, transcontinental service – at Virgin Galactic we will always be striving to open space to change the world for good.”
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