So strong that in a survey of the more than 100 people who have paid deposits to eventually go into space on a suborbital tourist flight, more than two-thirds said that if given the chance they would hop aboard SpaceShipOne on Monday for its first attempt to reach the great beyond.
SpaceShipOne -- with an as-yet-unnamed pilot and no passengers -- will attempt to become the first private craft to propel a human into space. The suborbital threshold is 62 miles (100 kilometers).
Space Adventures, which helped put millionaire civilian Dennis Tito aboard the International Space Station, conducted the survey.
Each of the survey participants has paid at least a $10,000 deposit toward a flight in a vehicle yet to be determined at an ultimate ticket price of $102,000.
Here are the details:
Would you be willing to fly on SpaceShipOne if a seat were made available on the first flight?
69% - Id be on the first flight
19% - Not the first flight, but one soon after
12% - Id like to see a few more flights first
What is the biggest reason that you have decided to take a suborbital flight?
46% - To see Earth from space
18% - Uniqueness of experience
17% - Want to participate in space exploration
12% - Want to be part of an exclusive club
7% - Want to experience weightlessness
Do you want the suborbital spaceship in which you fly to be of a similar design to SpaceShipOne?
72% - Yes, its a great design
12% - No, Id prefer to fly in rocket that takes off vertically
9% - No, it needs more room inside
7% - Undecided
How many suborbital flights do you plan on taking?
51% - At least one more (after the first flight)
19% - Ask me after the first one
16% - Several more
14% - Only one
Where would you prefer to have the suborbital spaceport located?
53% - Doesnt matter, just want to fly
24% - U.S.A.
12% - Europe
5% - Asia
The survey was conducted June 15-17. Space Adventures acts as representative to companies planning future space tourist flights. It also offers flights aboard zero gravity planes and Russian MiG fighters.
advertisement
