$ 95,000 gives half an hour of thrills

US company XCOR Aerospace has just announced ticketing to visit the space for $ 95,000, less than half of the rival Virgin Galatic.

Lynx spacecraft of XCOR Aerospace.Photo: Reuters.

The estimated $ 95,000 ticket price released by XCOR Aerospace will be a competitive advantage when compared to Virgin Galatic's $ 200,000 space travel service. XCOR is developing the Lynx spacecraft, which is expected to fly in 2010, to serve its service. Danish businessman Per Wimmer will be the first guest to fly into space on this spacecraft in 2011.

Lynx spacecraft will take off and land like an airplane so there's no need for a launcher. Passengers will sit in the cockpit with a former spacecraft commander. The spacecraft will take them 61 km above the ground, enough to escape the Earth's atmosphere.

XCOR's space exploration journey will last for 30 minutes and visitors enjoy the feeling of zero gravity in a minute. They will also be watching the earth from above altitude that cannot be experienced from ordinary planes.

XCOR hopes to make 4 space travel flights every day when this service comes into operation regularly.