We are closer to space tourism than we think, with several companies in the race to build the next spacecraft to put the paying public in space. Orbiting the earth, buying land on the moon and living on Mars is hardly a distant dream, finds Kasmin Fernandes

British billionaire Sir Richard Branson's new private suborbital spaceship built for Virgin Galactic has made its first flight with crew on board over California's Mojave Desert on July 15. The spaceship -- VSS Enterprise -- is a commercial spaceliner designed to provide flights into space to the paying public. The company envisions launching paying passengers like you on suborbital thrill rides for about $200,000 (Rs 93,94,571 approx.) per seat.



"The VSS Enterprise test flight programme will continue through 2010 and 2011, progressing from captive carry to independent glide and then powered flight, prior to the start of commercial operations," a Virgin Galactic spokesperson said in an email interview to Sunday Mid Day.u00a0

Already, over 360 individuals have paid in total more than $48 million to reserve places on the first few flights. "From the enormous acceleration to the freedom of zero gravity and the astounding views of the Earth, it really will be a trip of sensory overload from start to finish," promises Stephen Attenborough, Commercial director, Virgin Galactic.