Richard Branson has unveiled Virgin Galactic’s new version of SpaceShipTwo, aiming to make space travel publicly accessible – just so long as you have a spare £175,000 knocking about.
But what if money was no object? What if you were offered the chance to fly into space – would you do it?
We asked the people of Wimbledon what they thought.
Would you travel to space if you were given the chance?
YES NO
70% 30%
Osama al-Luwai, 36, from Soho, said he would make the trip, as he was keen on getting a new perspective on the world.
He said: “I would love to go. It’s interesting to go and see what’s happening out there. I have no idea.
“I don’t really fly much actually, but I would be able to for a space flight.”
OSAMA AL-LUWAI: Would love to go space
Kaan Kayacan, a 35-year-old legal consultant from Wimbledon, also said the opportunity would be one he couldn’t turn down.
He said: “If I had the money, yes. It’s a once in a lifetime thing. Seeing the world, planet earth, from space, seeing how small we are, it would be amazing.”
Lin Anbo, a 40-year-old volunteer at Trinity Hospice’s charity shop from Hammersmith, said she would be too frightened of something going wrong.
She said: “I wouldn’t do it myself. It’s very risky. I would much rather prefer to take the bus!
“I do fly, so I have no problem with planes, but you have planes flying every five minutes, so it’s OK. I’d be 50:50 in ten years, maybe.”
Virgin Media sales rep Frankie Webb, 24, from Croydon, said she would love to try space travel.
“Absolutely,” Ms Webb said. “I always wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid.
“It’s just so expansive, you don’t know what you’re going to find. I find it hard to believe that we’re the only intelligent life out there. I’d really love to do it.”
FRANKIE WEBB: Always wanted to be an astronaut
Ana Hunt, a 34-year-old Oxfam volunteer, was similarly hesitant about being one of the first members of the public in space.
She said: “Oh my God! I don’t think so! It’s too dangerous. Obviously, there’s lots of risk. I could think about it in ten years, maybe. I fly a lot but outside the atmosphere is too far!”
But Keith Wilson, 69, from Raynes Park, said he would love to have a go, even if though he did concede it was unlikely to happen.
He said: “Yes, but it’s a bit far-fetched! The excitement of it, seeing the earth from outer space and the experience, a different experience.
“I think I’m a bit old though! I’m saving up but it might take a while!”
KEITH WILSON: Thinks it’s a bit far-fetched
Valerie Alunan, a 23-year-old barwoman from Morden, said she would need more than the excitement of space travel to convince her.
“Me personally? No, I think the fear of flying and the fear of heights would get in the way,” Ms Alunan said. “I like travelling but you have to suck it up for that. Unless the world was collapsing, no!”
Dr David Buckley, 55, a lecturer who now works as a peace ambassador with the United Nations, was keen on the idea and didn’t seem to mind the risk.
“Yes, I suppose I would, but I wouldn’t seek to do it. It’s not something I would go out of my way to do.
“I wouldn’t want to be the first, but you’ve got to die somehow! At least if you die that way you get your name in the paper!”
Lester West, 31, from Wimbledon, admitted he would be a bit nervous about flying into space, but the experience would be too good to pass up.
He said: “I’d think about it, yeah. I’d be a bit nervous about it. I don’t fly a lot, I don’t travel that much anyway.
“I’d think about it though. I think I’d do it for the experience, it’d definitely be something different.”
And Deidre, 21, from Wimbledon, said the experience of flying in outer space would be brilliant.
“Yeah, I’d definitely do that, that would be an interesting experience. I’m not scared of flying normally, so that should be all right.”
Image courtesy of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, with thanks
