The Final Frontier

There has been talk about commercial space flights for years. Until now, it was really more science fiction than reality. But those dreams are finally coming to reality. Virgin Galactic*, a division of Virgin Atlantic, will offer sub-orbital space flight as soon as the end of this year, for the bargain price of $200,000.



I love the idea of outer space. I dream of fantastic worlds millions and millions of light years away. What would they look like? Purple skies, orange seas, six moons? In movies, aliens are always humanoids, but if there are intelligent lifeforms, and with all of the possible worlds out there it seems likely there are, isn't it realistic to think they could be completely different from anything we could possibly even imagine?

Sadly, I think I am more intrigued by the fantasy than the reality. A theme in my life, to be sure. The learnin' and schoolin' to get in to NASA is more than I could commit to, so the idea of a flight that anyone can take is very appealing. You can bet that if I had a spare $200k laying around that I would be on that ship. Of course, I would request a black spacesuit because the white? Does nothing for my hips.

Would you go?

*How much do I love this name?