would you go to space if a spaceship was made available for ordinary people?
By greygoo
@greygoo (795)
Philippines
October 12, 2010 8:51pm CST
i read this article about a spaceship that's built to allow normal people to visit space for 3 and a half hours. the company was called Virgin Atlantic created by an Englishman Sir Richard Branson. flights will start next year and prices begin at $200,000 per person.
i think it's amazing that they could create those ships for normal people, but i think i wouldn't go even if i had the money. i think space is a pretty scary place...m(0 0)m
and besides, there are a lot of other things with which we can use the money for; reducing malaria and aids cases in Africa for example.
2 people like this
19 responses
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
13 Oct 10
On one hand I think, "no way!" But then my mind is like, why not? What an awesome opportunity! I would not want to miss out on a piece of history just because of a little bit of fear of the unknown! i just might do it if money were not a factor!
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
13 Oct 10
AS long as I am not in control it shouldn't be too bad. i shouldn't be able to get lost as long as the pilot knows where he's going! haha!! I would do it for the experience sake.
1 person likes this
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
13 Oct 10
People have been talking about this for a long time. They have even talked about how old people could live in orbit around the earth because with less gravity there will be less stress on their aging bodies.
If I had the extra money, I would really want to do this. I have always been fascinated with space.
2 people like this
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
13 Oct 10
Gravity puts stress on the body, especially joints. That's why older people have less pain when swimming, because the buoyancy of the water counteracts the effects of gravity. With less gravity in space there would be less wear and tear on their joints and less stress on the hearts from moving their bodies around.
And I think I would probably be terrified, but in a good way, like a rollercoaster.
1 person likes this
@mlhervas (482)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
$200,000 per person! That is beyond any ordinary person's reach. Only very rich people can afford doing it.
But if it would be made affordable for ordinary people like me, then I would definitely go for it! 
It would be a wonderful and beautiful to experience going to space! 
It would be a wonderful and beautiful to experience going to space! 2 people like this
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
:) yup the price is high. i think they meant 'untrained' people when they said 'normal'. people aren't sent there unless they've trained right (like astronauts)?
seems like everybody wants to go there. except me. oh well, then i'll have the Earth for myself! mwahaha!XD
@superkim (29)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
yes, I would definitely try it because I bet it's an amazing view up there. but it's so expensive that "normal" people can't afford the fee. and you're right, there are more important things to spend our money for. but if I had the money, I would definitely try it. You sure it's not fiction?
2 people like this
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
hmm... i read it from an article at wikinut. i wanted to paste the link but i can't do that yet. *sigh*
i actually thought that it was expensive. hahaXD but i think (i just realized this) that they probably meant 'non-astronauts' or untrained people when they said 'normal'. whew. confusing.
you can try using mylot search to see if it's true. mylot will pay you for that^_^ i made a mistake by the way. it's virgin 'galactic' not 'atlantic'. *sigh*
1 person likes this
@blindmoongoddess (426)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
Oh, it would be quite an experience, so if I could afford it, I would definitely go! 
Of course, I'd have to be pretty wealthy in order to take this amazing trip. Well, I'd probably go there after I have already donated a significant amount of my money to worthy causes like the ones you mentioned. Yes, it could be scary, but there is no adventure without an element of danger. 
Of course, I'd have to be pretty wealthy in order to take this amazing trip. Well, I'd probably go there after I have already donated a significant amount of my money to worthy causes like the ones you mentioned. Yes, it could be scary, but there is no adventure without an element of danger. 1 person likes this
@eurekafemme (5877)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
If I can go to space for free, then, why not? I always wonder what is life up there and how it feels like out there.:) Space for me is a very mysterious thing. Where it begins and where it ends. I am also fascinated with stars and planets and everything else in the outer space. Maybe because it is of great anticipation of what might we discover when we have more liberty to explore the space. Not knowing is something that drives curiosity and curiosity to discovery. Hence, I'd love to discover a bit of space on my own.
But realistically speaking, only those who ae too well off can afford that much money to visit the outer space. If I have that amount, I will not go to space still but rather put the money into something more useful for everybody. Maybe, hundreds of children in Africa can be fed and saved using that money...
1 person likes this
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
hmm... i would usually agree that a lot will be helped by such an amount. but your vision of discovering something out there is very passionate that i feel like you must go. hahaXD
but really, if you ever get the necessary amount in your hands, go by all means:)
@anurag3786 (6267)
• India
13 Oct 10
Yes I will go if I get any chance to go in space if a spaceship was made available for ordinary people. Because I want to see space by near and I also want to see our earth from space that how it looks like from the space.
1 person likes this
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
10 Nov 10
There so much I can do with the $200,000 compared to a few hours of floating weightless in space and staring into nothingness. If it's free, why not? since it's a once in a lifetime experience but to shell out that much amount just to experience it is a No, no. Not unless, I'm as rich as Bill Gates or Richard Branson himself, but still I'll be having second thoughts since there's so much a $200,000 can do to people who are in dire need rather than spending it in a joy ride.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
10 Nov 10
Actually the $200,000 money needed to experience spaceflight is already considered cheap since the last time I read from the news is that you need $100 million but that's spending a few days living at the International Space Station. Maybe the price will go down eventually especially if they can find a fuel that would cost less as compared to todays prices.
@babyEj (1522)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
Well you're giving us two pictures with different purpose/objective. Going to spaceship could be a self fulfillment and helping the people is a citizen obligation.. if time will come that $200,000 is cheap for me (hmmm?) then I'll go. It's a lifetime experience.
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
haha. i think i tend to mix those two scenarios up often...probably because i come from a developing country, and money is personally a scarce resource for me. and i study economics; i sometimes weigh things based on optimal benefit (sometimes regardless of who receives it). hahaXD
i hope you get to go there~
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
14 Oct 10
oh you never know~ a few years from now, you might have next door neighbors who live as far as mars! hahaXD people have a tendency to make things faster and, hence, the world smaller;) if that happens, then fares to outer space should be as cheap as plane tickets!
@stellar126 (278)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
I would. If I had the means to visit space, I wouldn't hesitate to jump in a spaceship to do so. I've always heard people say that space is the final frontier, and to pass up the opportunity to go see space is something that would probably end on the top of my Regrets list.
1 person likes this
@Kitakatidoki (20)
• Denmark
13 Oct 10
Interesting question which I think many is considering.
For myself I do not think I would dare. As you say its a scary place.
Anyway at the price of 200,000 I think I had better use this money for a house or something. If the price were like a normal flight ticket I might consider.
@SimpleBB (1329)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
Hey greygoo,
Absolutely that's not for ordinary people. Still purposely made for whom we refer "somebody". How could an ordinary person avail a short journey for a huge amount as such? And you're right, why do someone risk their lives for unknown place? How can be someone safe being outside the earth? Well, probably there are some people who have nothing to do with life to take the risk of taking this trip. But yes, there are more significant issues to settle instead of alloting huge money for a 3-hour pleasure trip.
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
well i would love to but the price is too high for me. but i think in the future they will make a plane that will go to outerspace to hasten the travel to country to country.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
13 Oct 10
I think traveling to space would be a fascinating experience.I would definitely go if the opportunity came my way. @ladymetal80 (191)
• United States
13 Oct 10
I would not spend money to go into a spaceship, because that might be the best way to get rid of normal people. Send them up in a ship with a promise of returning home, and the next thing you know, you now call the moon your home. Even if that doesn't happen, I can't see spending that amount of money on a 3 hour enjoyment. I would want to get my money's worth, and I don't really think that would be worth it.
@greygoo (795)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
haha. you're worried about being left on the moon? hmm... i guess, yeah, throwing all the rich people who could pay that much into outer space would be cool! then we could get all their money and distribute them to th poor! hahaXD
yup it sure is a very expensive way to enjoy.
@moneymaker83 (1)
• Philippines
13 Oct 10
yes i would.. it would be great to go to outerspace, i think its really fun
