Branson Wants Swedish Spaceport

Published: Wed May 10th, 2006
Source: www.isa.se



Space tourists could soon be heading into orbit from Swedish soil in a venture planned by UK entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

UK company Virgin Galactic, headed by Branson, wants to make the Esrange launch pad in Kiruna one of its bases for commercial space flights, starting in 2008.

“They are very interested in the possibility of [passengers] seeing the Northern Lights during the flights,” said Olle Norberg, general manager of Esrange.

Space passengers will fly on specially-built planes that will take off from a normal runway at Kiruna Airport.

On reaching an altitude of 15 kilometers, a rocket booster will propel the six passengers into space. The plane will later land like a glider.

Esrange’s role will be to service the craft and charge the rocket motor after every flight.

The space centre will complement a similar Virgin facility in New Mexico in the US.

Commercial flights are scheduled to start in 2008, with trips to the Northern Lights beginning in 2011. Seats on a ride will cost US$200,000.

LFV, the Swedish Space Corporation and the Ice Hotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi are now putting together a consortium, Kiruna Spaceport, to promote space tourism.
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