Virgin Galactic says space travel may be possible in Asia in 5 years
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 20 February 2008 1955 hrs
SINGAPORE: A boost for space travel and technology in Asia - as Sir Richard Branson's new venture, Virgin Galactic, said on Wednesday it is possible to introduce space travel in Asia within the next five years.
It cited Singapore as a possible candidate to be the first port of call in the region.
This was revealed to Channel NewsAsia at the first Global Space and Technology Convention, held as part of the 2008 Singapore Airshow.
Space travel has long captured people's imagination and what was once an exclusive club with the Americans and Russians, is now opening up to Asia.
Virgin Galactic is trying to crack the American market and will soon focus on Australia and Asia over the next five years.
However, do not expect cheap tickets.
Alex Tai, Group Director of Special Projects for Virgin Management, said: "US$250,000 - you can buy a ticket right now and go. We expect to fly more people into space in our first year than ever flown before into space. Our target is 500 people for the first year."
Many said Singapore is poised to take advantage of the rising industry.
Minister of State for Trade and Industry, S. Iswaran, said: "There are lots of commercial ventures coming up. Whether it is commercial ventures into space or adapting these technologies for terrestrial applications on the ground, I think those are the areas where Singapore can meaningfully be involved."
Jonathan Hung, President of the Singapore Space and Technology Association, said: "We can help in terms of R&D (and) niche manufacturing. We can help in terms of training, for example, simulation training. The soft factors are also what make us very all encompassing."
Although Singapore does not have a national space programme, its local researchers are designing and building their first experimental micro-satellite, which is targeted to be launched by the end of this year.
However, the company Space Adventures, said the long-awaited Spaceport announced in 2006, is seeing funding problems.
Eric Anderson, President and CEO of Space Adventures, said: "As you often find in aerospace, projects take longer than you think they will. It's a new concept and explaining to prospective investors, not only a specific project, but also an industry... often takes longer than we would hope."
The company said it has not ruled out the possibility of pulling out of Singapore. - CNA/vm
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...330064/1/.html 
Virgin Galactic says space travel may be possible in Asia in 5 years 
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