Singapore family books $1 million Virgin space flight
23.02.12
SINGAPORE—A Singaporean businessman, his wife and two children have paid $1 million to become the first Asian family to fly together on space-tourism airline Virgin Galactic, the company announced Monday.
“I had lunch yesterday with a guy who got in touch with us in Singapore, and over lunch he signed his contract for not just a seat, but for a whole flight,” Virgin Galactic commercial director Stephen Attenborough said.
Speaking at an international media and marketing conference in Singapore, Attenborough said the customer handed over a check for $1 million and asked to remain anonymous because “apparently he hasn’t told his wife yet.”
“So he is going to become, or he and his family will become, the first family from Asia to become astronauts together,” Attenborough said.
The US-based firm, part of British tycoon Richard Branson’s Virgin conglomerate, has sold bookings since 2005 at $200,000 per seat even though it has not yet set a firm timetable for space flights to be launched from New Mexico.
Source: Inquirer.net