Space tourism the norm come 2038
Holidays in space will be available before 2038 - with regular departures for tourists wanting an experience that is, quite literally, out of this world.
Experts gathering for the World Travel Market trade show, which opens at London's ExCel tomorrow, believe the final frontier is just around the corner.
And with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic already busy with advance bookings, space tourism is on countdown for blast off.
"The industry has changed dramatically since World Travel Market first opened its doors way back in 1980, and it's set to evolve at an even quicker pace over the next 30 years," says show chairman Fiona Jeffery.
"After countless false dawns, space travel will be a reality with people escaping to 'away from it all' holidays in hotels located above the Earth. It is not a question of if this happening. It's just a matter of time and money. It's definitely coming."
Virgin Galactic is the world's first spaceline, and has already completed successful test flights. Bookings have already been taken for the $200,000 trip, with wannabe astronauts leaving a hefty $20,000 deposit each.
Says Branson: "We will give people the groundbreaking opportunity to become one of the first ever non-professional astronauts. Virgin Galactic will own and operate its privately built spaceships.
"Virgin's vast experience in aviation, adventure, luxury travel and cutting-edge design, combined with unique technology, will ensure an unforgettable experience unlike any other available to mankind."
The line's passenger spaceship is currently being designed in Mojave, California. The aim is to come up with a ship that can fly almost anyone to space safely without the need for special expertise or time-consuming training.
It's estimated there will be just three days of pre-flight preparation, bonding and training onsite at the spaceport.
"Learning how to make the most of your time in zero gravity will form an integral part of your preparation," says Branson.
"Early indicators show that the required medical assessment will be simple and unrestrictive and that the vast majority of people who want to fly, will not be prevented from doing so by health or fitness considerations."
From the spaceport to 50,000ft, passengers will be in the spacecraft attached to the mother ship - a specially designed jet carrier aircraft. Then the countdown to release, a brief moment of quiet before a wave of unimaginable power surges through the craft.
"You are instantly pinned back into your seat, overwhelmed but enthralled by the howl of the rocket motor and the eye-watering acceleration," says Virgin Galactic. "As you watch the read-out, you will be travelling in a matter of seconds at almost 2,500 mph, over three times the speed of sound.
"Once in space the rocket motor is switched off and it is quiet. The silence of space is as awe-inspiring as was the noise of the rocket just moments earlier. Gravity, which has dominated every movement you've made since the day you were born, is not there any more."
But if you think space holidays are anything new, then think again.
Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fonenla-Novoa reveals that the travel agent took reservations for the first passenger service to space way back in 1950!
"We did warn there may be some delay," he says.
"More than 100 people from all over the world booked seats on Thomas Cook's inaugural lunar tour within a matter of months. The waiting list finally closed in 1996 with 10,000 names on it."
Older/Newer
Authors
Daniel Smith - a long time ago, in a galaxy far away just north of Watford, Daniel fancied himself as a scientist but turned out to be the worst scientist since that bloke who mapped out all those canals on Mars that turned out to be scratches on his telescope's lens. Luckily, he is now not working on the Large Hadron Collider inadvertently creating a black hole that would swallow the world but is safely behind a desk writing this blog, bringing you the fantastical underbelly of nature... weird science.
