USA - New York - Phillipe Starck at Virgin Galactic spaceship launch

Unveiling of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo

A computer-generated astronaut lies down on board a space flight on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo's, unveiled as a replica model during Wired NextFest at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York. Under construction by Burt Rutan in Mojave, California and looking more like '2001 A Space Odyssey,' than future everyday holidays, SpaceShipTwo is a re-usable orbiting vehicle that will become an important tool for Man's leisure time in space when affordable commercial space tourism starting in 2009/10. Aboard the space vehicle will be 6 passengers, each paying $200,000 for the 40 minute flight to 360,000 feet (109.73km, or 68.18 miles) and to experience 6 minutes of weighlessness. From these circular portholes, astronauts will see 1,000 miles having taken off from the new Spaceport America, New Mexico.

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Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 3072x2431 / 511.6KB; Richard Baker unveiling New York NextFest Jacob javits convention center Center astronaut virgin galactic sir richard branson flight space business venture orbit orbital tourist tourism ship operation miles frequent flyer flying weightless floating fare paying $ dollars exploration history future sci-fi science private enterprise tycoon investment money universe concept conception conceptual brave spend trip lifetime Mojave composite Rutan technology aviation adventure travel special unique safety research development programme experience awesome traveller kilometres km altitude height sickness vomit nausea cutting edge affordable sub-orbital mother 2001 real imagination earth home planet solar system stars way atmosphere aerospace zero gravity g forces healthy health countdown lift-off lift upwards trek pilot emissions global capsule command module spacecraft spaceship planetary excursionist globetrotter jet-setter journeyer sightseer traveler tripper vacationist visitor voyager holiday voyage destination return safe people adventurer risk payment pay odyssey excitement exciting rich wealth wealthy nasa competition epic 2009 savour craft curvature wired nextfest scale replica dramatic opportunity pioneer pioneering vehicle impact starck phillippe ride cabin viable customer client punter adventurous dream routine passenger historical mankind leisure lifestyle
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A computer-generated astronaut lies down on board a space flight on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo's, unveiled as a replica model during Wired NextFest at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York. Under construction by Burt Rutan in Mojave, California and looking more like '2001 A Space Odyssey,' than future everyday holidays, SpaceShipTwo is a re-usable orbiting vehicle that will become an important tool for Man's leisure time in space when affordable commercial space tourism starting in 2009/10. Aboard the space vehicle will be 6 passengers, each paying $200,000 for the 40 minute flight to 360,000 feet (109.73km, or 68.18 miles) and to experience 6 minutes of weighlessness. From these circular portholes, astronauts will see 1,000 miles having taken off from the new Spaceport America, New Mexico.