Competition hots up for launch sites
April 2008
Competition could be hotting up for launch venues for space flights being offered by Virgin Galactic and other operators.
In Australia, the South Australian Tourism Commission says it will be contacting Virgin Galactic this week to extoll the virtues of its state's outback as a lunch site for private space flights.
The Commision's ceo, Andrew McEvoy says while space tourism is a niche market, it could provide a big boost for South Australian tourism and boost the local economy.
Mr McEvoy said he's love to show Sir Richard Branson some of the sites Virgin Galactic could launch out of in South Australia.
He said those who have signed up for Virgin space flights are high net worth individuals who would spend money in the state as part of their space flight excursion.