Space odyssey begins for Indians

About a 100 years ago, people would have been making fun of whoever suggested flying from New York to Paris. At a press conference in New Delhi today, some journalists could be seen talking exactly the same way about space flights.

Sceptical as we might be about the future of such travel, space travel company Virgin Galactic was launched in India. So now the rich among us Indians can certainly dream of taking a flight into space, as early as 2010. Yes, the rich, because it costs $200,000 a trip.

As of 2007, space tourism opportunities are limited and expensive, with only the Russian space agency providing transport.

The price for a flight brokered by Space Adventures to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft is now $30 million. Flights are fully booked until 2009.

Virgin Galactic has already made bookings for 200 customers, which include four Indian nationals. The technology has been tested, says Carolyn Wincer, head, astronaut operations, Virgin Galactic.

The prototype SpaceShipOne (SS1) had travelled three times into space and the larger version of the same machine is under construction at the moment. The new machine, the SpaceShipTwo (SS2) will be able to carry six passengers and two pilots.

Here in India, Deluxe Travel Europe, which is the accredited space agent for India will be selling the trips. They have tied up with GD Goenka World Travel to create a company called Spazio Travel, which will spearhead the marketing effort in India.

Speak to Nipun Goenka, CEO of Spazio Travel, and you can hear the excitement in his voice. The whole idea of selling space travel is very exciting. He tells us that in India, where there at 18 billionaires and many more people with a lot more money than ever before, they are targeting to sell to at least 20 people in the next one year.

The flight will take from a purpose-built spaceport in New Mexico and the "astronauts" will go through three days of pre-flight preparation and training onsite. This would include G-force acclimatisation and safety training as well.

Now over to the best part, which is the flight itself. The total flight time will be two hours, which include eight minutes in space and four minutes of weightlessness (when you can actually float).

The craft will go about 110 km into space and from there you (if you are really bent on taking the flight) can see the curve of the earth, the blue of the atmosphere, the pitch black of space and it will be completely silent.

SS2 will go six times the distance from ground as a Concorde would and 3.3 times the speed of sound. SS2 will be air-launched and in 10 seconds it will be supersonic and in 30 seconds it will cross Mach 3. During re-entry a passenger's body will experience up to 6 Gs, though only for a very short while. Virgin Galactic is spending about $25 million to build the first craft.

Virgin Galactic is trying to sell space charters as well. Wincer tells us that there could even be marriages in space. In fact, the state of New Mexico, she says, has said marriages in space will be legally valid. But honeymoons in space will still have to wait some more years.

Even further into the future, we are sure to see orbital flights, space hotels and lunar flights. But till then, let's figure out a way to get on the space flight at least. Luckily, there is an option of booking the flight by paying as low as $20,000. And with the dollar down at the moment, it might be the best time as well.

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MOONWALKERS

Space travel company Virgin Galactic opens shop in India. Rich Indians can resort to space tourism by 2010, shelling out $200,000 a trip

The new machine, the SpaceShipTwo, will be able to carry six passengers and two pilots

India is reported to be the home of 18 billionaires and many with a lot more money than ever before. The company hopes to add 20 new members next year