Thought Press.

The dream of passenger travel to space is here. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceline is well on its way to flight in 2009 or 2010. Already, SpaceShipTwo (predecessor to SpaceShipOne) is being constructed in Mojave, California. The flight experience takes passengers into sub-orbit where they will experience four minutes of weightlessness before returning to Earth. The spaceliner will be launched in the air from a mega “mothership” aircraft. Tickets are $200,000 for the maiden passenger flight.

The first spaceport has been designed and will be located in New Mexico. Construction begins in 2008 and the new Spaceport America terminal and hangar facility will house two White Knight Two motherships and five SpaceShipTwo spacecraft. The terminal will have plenty of space for lounges, offices, and operation and flight facilities. The cost of the spaceport is estimated to be $31 million.

Will Whitehorn, President of Virgin Galactic says that 2008 will be “The Year of the Spaceship”.