Space Adventures undercuts Virgin Galactic -- announces $100,000 space tourism flight
By Laura June 
posted May 13th 2010 11:02AM
posted May 13th 2010 11:02AM
Space tourism is something we here at Engadget have always been pretty fond of in theory -- it is the final frontier, after all -- but the prohibitive (exorbitant, extravagant, ridiculous) $200,000 price tag on a Virgin Galactic flight pretty much ended any small hopes we ever harbored of getting on one. So, would a reduction of about 50 percent be enough to get us to sign up? That's the question that Virginia-based Space Adventures is asking. The company's just announced it's going to offer flights into suborbital space through an exclusive agreement with Armadillo Aerospace, which is currently developing the rockets for the journeys. A trip with Space Adventures is set to cost just $102,000. We still can't afford it, but we're certainly glad to see the prices fall from insane to outrageous. So, what about you? Are you in?
@sparkzz - Yeah, there's nothing to it!
Did they have to use Casey James from American Idol? I know Big Mike wouldn't fit in the launch vehicle, and did anyone else notice he was the only one allowed to drive that Pinto III in the fake Ford commercial?
Space is defintely overrated!
For me, i will just go to the next Space IMax movie and save about 101,988 dollars and get a taco on the way home.
So, can we send Shatner to negotiate our rate down to $29,995?
Why not find Jesus, donate the $100 to charity and after death ask God if you can have a little fly around space.
I'd be afraid my baggage would end up on Uranus.
@edf
I see what you did there.
why is that dude taking a surf board with him?
i'm pretty sure thats waaaaaaaaaaay over the regulation size for carry on space travel flights.
@liquidmonkey
Perhaps he saw the end of Dark Star (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069945/) and wants to try the same atmospheric re-entry method.
Of course, even if it "works", you die.
I am pleased
I know what I'm doing if I ever win the Powerball jackpot.
This is what space exploration needs... as much as I want NASA to kickass, privatization of space launching brings compatition which breeds inovation which lowers prices for the end consumer (unless your the phone companies) good luck to all private spaceflight companies! I hope to see you at $5,000 before I die!
The ticket is only $102,000, but they change and extra $25,000 each way for your bag.
Once it drops to under $5, it might actually become popular; lets just hope these rockets burn cleanly--- foul air smells bad for everything.
@cosmicinglewood $5,000
@cosmicinglewood Under $5 would make it better than a taxi in NYC
Is it just me that thinks you should stick with a company that has a bajillion dollars and a crazy team of people working on these flights, over a group that is just figuring things out, and plus the ships look way better (safer) with team branson. I cant believe I have an accredited space agency in my city!
Annnnnnnddddd I stil don't got it.
I will start saving up when they start building New Vegas on the moon. That would be real space flight, with a pay off at the end.
House...or space for 20 minutes....hmmmm
Its so easy a caveman, oh wait a surfer can do it.
Depends... is it round-trip or one-way?
Hope Gizmodo buys only 1 one-way ticket... to the sun.
We can now send people to space. Pick.
So i decide to go to a suborbital flight, which is probably the most dangerous thing i'll ever do, and i decide to do so with a company that advertises their crew as being moronic surfing dudes with fake Space Suits.
"Hey, dudes, this is the captain...¿have you realized how many stars can you see from up here? duuude that really makes you realize how small and irrelevant our lifes are..."
Heck, now that i think of it, Jean Luc Picard wouldn't be that much of a poor choice after all.
Within our lifetime space tourism will probably become affordable, i'm still waiting for that day, i mean if they within 5 years made it drop from tens of millions of dollars to 102 000$, that imo is insane O_o
I am calling to book my flight now...when do we leave?
Oh, wait...it comes and goes to the same place? Then what's the use? I was trying to get to the other side!!! rofl...