Spacecation: Success of the Enterprise

Richard Branson has done a lot of awesome things. He holds the world record for fastest crossing of the atlantic (almost dying while trying) and fastest crossing of the English Channel in an amphibious vehicle, flies hot-air balloons around the world for kicks and he’s a knight.

Did I mention that he’s worth $4 billion and is the founder of the Virgin Group of over 360 companies from Virgin Mobile USA to Virgin Vodka?

GABE MENDE-FRIDKIS / THE EAGLE

As if conquering the worlds of extreme sports and financial success weren’t enough, Sir Richard has a new goal: he wants to go to space and he wants you to come with him.

Virgin Galactic was founded in 2004 starting a wave of companies following Branson into space-tourism. Although it has been selling $200,000 tickets into space for about a year now, Virgin Galactic’s first functional sub-orbital spacecraft (creatively named “The Enterprise” wonder where you got that one from, Richard?) had its first successful glide test last week.

This means that the world’s first commercial spacecraft can actually fly, which is a pretty big deal for something that will (hopefully) be charting some very wealthy people to the edge of of the great unknown within the year.

“There are a number of big deals on the way to getting commercial space travel becoming a reality.” Sir Branson told the Associated Press after the test’s successful completion. ”This was a very big step. We now know that the spaceship glides. We know it can be dropped safely from the mothership and we know it can land safely. That’s three big ticks.”

What’s next for The Enterprise? Months of rocket air-testing, but never fear, real space tourism is just around the bend so start saving your money to spend next summer on Mars.