Geeks in Space

Geeks in Space

Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Records, Virgin Airlines, Virgin Mobile, and the upcoming Virgin Galactic (offering zero-g space flight to the unwashed masses, at least the unwashed who can drop $200k on a two hour orbital jaunt) is looking to launch Stephen Hawking into the stratosphere. Obviously, a huge puplicity stunt disguised as an indulgence of the fancy of one the world's greatest minds, but amazingly cool none-the-less. Good luck to both of you, the Dragon hopes it works out. In a related matter, the Dragon will happily accept a +1 press pass on Virgin Galactic, in exchange for which he will write an extremely thorough and glowing review of the service... eh? Eh?

Hawking, 65, has said he hopes to travel on British businessman Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic service, which is scheduled to launch in 2009. The service will charge space tourists about $200,000for a two-hour suborbital trip some 87 miles above the Earth.
Branson was keen to help the scientist realize his dream of space flight, Virgin Galactic spokesman Stephen Attenborough said Monday.
"Richard is very determined that if we can possibly make this happen, then it should," Attenborough said.