Virgin Galactic has reopened ticket sales for its space flights at a starting price of $450,000.
In July, the company led by billionaire Richard Branson completed its first flight to the edge of space. They are going to start commercial flights next year after doing several test missions.
It had sold tickets at $250,000 each in 2014 after a fatal accident. But it stopped in 2014 after the accident. Now it has tested an airplane and people are interested again so it is selling tickets again at $250,000 apiece.
“Leveraging the surge in consumer interest following the Unity 22 flight, we are excited to announce the reopening of sales effective today,” he said.
“As we endeavour to bring the wonder of space to a broad global population, we are delighted to open the door to an entirely new industry and consumer experience.”
Virgin Galactic is trying to take space tourism. They are competing with Jeff Bezos’ company, Blue Origin. Virgin’s first flight was on July and he took part in a crewed test flight of his own plane into space. He is expected to sell tickets for future flights for $200,000-300,000.
Space X tested their spacecraft last year that will take astronauts to the International Space Station. They plan to send three tourists on a 10-day trip this year. You can buy tickets for just one person, or you can buy tickets for friends and family members together.
Some people might be able to buy seats for the flight before it ends. About 600 tickets had been sold when it ended. The firm’s next flight, Unity 23, is expected to take off in late September from Spaceport America in New Mexico.