New Mexico-based commercial spaceline Virgin Galactic will officially be making its first-ever commercial space tourism flight later this summer.
After the initial launch of the Virgin Space Ship Unity which will be a research mission on microgravity in June, space tourists will take their first journey in August.
While priced at $450,000, more than double the presale cost, Virgin Galactic has already sold 800 tickets with 100 of those purchases at the higher price.
In order to be put on the fly list, space tourists have to put down a $150,000 deposit, with the remaining balance due before boarding.
The company expects to make monthly trips with a capacity of eight passengers who will fly approximately 60 miles above Earth for about 90 minutes.
Later in 2023, Dim Mak label head Steve Aoki will fly with nine other artists on a commercial space flight around the moon organized by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa.
The expedition is called “Dear Moon” and is organized by Elon Musk‘s SpaceX for a six-day trip around the moon.
Check out a trailer for Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flights this summer below:
Featured image credit Virgin Galactic