Kiwis in Space

Virgin Galactic's VMS Eve during its third test flight in March.

Kiwis lining up to be on Virgin space flight
The Dominion Post

Kiwis could be on Virgin Galactic’s very first commercial flight into space, says Carolyn Wincer, the company’s head of astronaut sales.

Of the seven New Zealanders who have signed up for the US$200,000 two-hour trip, three – including Christchurch-based rocket entrepreneur Mark Rocket and realtor Jackie Maw – are in the first 84, from which six will be selected.

The company, part of billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s business empire, has begun to test its spacecraft and Ms Wincer guessed the first flight would be within the next couple of years.

About 330 people had booked a flight. New Zealand was Virgin Galactic’s largest market per head head of population.

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