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Space Travel: Virgin Galactic Unveils Space Ship Two

As if we needed any more hype for Richard Branson's new commercial space flights, the brash billionaire hosted an event at the American Museum of Natural History yesterday to unveil his new Space Ship Two. The six-passenger pod will loft astronaut wannabes to an altitude of 68 miles. The cost? "Only" $200,000 a ticket.

Of course for that price you'll get a good view of the Earth below through 18-inch windows. Flyers will also be allowed to move around the smallish cabin for part of the flight and enjoy 4.5 minutes of weightlessness.

While Virgin still has some testing to do on both the passenger pod and the mothership that will carry it into the upper reaches of the atmosphere, the company seems totally serious about actually flying people into space. The first trips could happen as early as 2009, and Branson says the cost will come down by 2014. Start saving those nickels and dimes now, kids!

Related Stories:
· Virgin Galactic Tourist Spaceship Unveiled [Fox News]
· Virgin Galactic [Official Site]
· Space Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Video: Sarah Meyers]