Virgin Galactic space launch – live updates: First space flight for tourists lifts off – with British man, 80, and mother-daughter duo on board

If you felt inspired by what you just saw, and think you might want to get involved in a future commercial space flight, you may be disappointed to hear how difficult and expensive it is to land yourself a seat.

Difficult… but not impossible by any means.

You would firstly have to wait until Virgin Galactic decides to re-open its waiting list – and should you get on, there are about 800 people currently ahead of you in the line.

Take one of today’s passengers, 80-year-old Jon Goodwin, as an example – he bought his ticket to go to space a staggering 18 years ago, in 2005.

That being said, the delays that have kept the Olympian Mr Goodwin waiting should not affect the remaining 800 left waiting – with flights set become a lot more regular throughout the next few months and years. 

If you’re happy to wait – and quick enough to join the list whenever it re-opens, you can expect to be charged around £354,000 ($450,000) for the experience. 

But fear not – if you don’t have that kind of money to spend on an experience such as this, you can go for next to nothing.

That’s what fellow passengers and mother and daughter duo Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers managed to do.

The pair won their tickets through a charity draw hosted by Virgin Galactic in 2021 – with an entry donation to the competition costing just £7.87 ($10). 

It is not clear when or if such a draw will take place again – but the pair have now proven that becoming an astronaut via Richard Branson’s commercial business can indeed cost you under a tenner.