30 March 2006 Space tourists pay top prices
Annual holidays, holiday cover and travel ideas could be revolutionised by the latest project from world famous entrepreneur, Richard Branson.
Virgin Galactic, the new space wing of the Virgin business empire, is planning to launch commercial flights into sub-orbital space by 2008, according to the Register.
The tickets for the initial flights cost around £114,000 but 150 have already been sold to wealthy wannabe astronauts and thrill-seekers.
Although there are still reportedly some concerns about the effects the space flight will have on civilian bodies, the actress Sigourney Weaver and star of 80s TV drama, Dallas, Victoria Principal have signed up for the trip.
Richard Branson has also announced that he plans to take his parents up on one of the Galactic flights, which will launch from the company's mission control in New Mexico in two years time.
Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, stated: "New Mexico has worked hard to bring us to their exciting new spaceport facility and we look forward to working together to make the 'Final Frontier' a reality for tens of thousands of pioneering space tourists." 
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