A glimpse of space tourism will come to Oshkosh next year

A glimpse of space tourism will come to Oshkosh next year

By Aldrich M. Tan • Of The Northwestern • July 30, 2008

Sir Richard Branson (left) and Will Whitehorn (right) listen to Burt Rutan speak about their project "Virgin Galactic," which would allow for space tourism, during a presentation at EAA's Air Venture Tuesday afternoon. Megan Sheridan/ of The Northwestern The future of space tourism will come to Oshkosh next year.

Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the White Knight Two, would be coming to next year's AirVenture in Oshkosh. Whitehorn spoke with aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, and Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson during a forum on the future of space tourism.

White Knight Two will serve as a carrier for SpaceShip Two, the follow-up to Spaceship One, the world's first civilian rocket plane designed by Rutan to fly into space.

"Richard (Branson) and I want to see commercial flights make a beautiful swing around the moon and I think that this can happen in our lifetime," Rutan said.

The White Knight is undergoing ground testing, Whitehorn said. Air testing of the plane will begin in October. Virgin will then test the carrier with SpaceShip Two next year. He hopes that the planes will be flying into space by early 2010.

Commercial space tourism will begin when it is safe, Whitehorn said. More than 200 customers have already booked so far, with a flight costing at least $200,000 a ticket.

Whitehorn said he also anticipates a flight into space from Oshkosh when space tourism goes public.

Many hands flew up in the air when Rutan asked who would be willing to go into space once commercial space tourism becomes available. One of those volunteers was Paul Evans, 51, of Big Rock, Ill.

"It's the thing that we have been waiting for a long time," he said. "I'm glad that we have such an entrepreneur like Burt Rutan to get it done and I have a chance to see it in my lifetime."

Evans said he is hopeful that space travel will become more affordable. He also has an idea of where he would like to go when space tourism becomes available.

"I want to see if another planet like Earth is out there and have a drink of water there," he said.

Rutan said that it's the type of people in Oshkosh attending AirVenture — whose passion he said he can see in their eyes — that will to help further space tourism.

"You are going to help us grow the industry," he said.