Hundreds of budding astronauts have signed up for a $2366-a minute flight that billionaire Sir Richard Branson is promising will be a ride of a lifetime
Branson said that while the flight was "bloody expensive" he hoped to get the price down as more missions were launched.
Eight New Zealanders are among 800 people who have signed up for the two-and-a-half hour flight that will cost US$250,000 (NZ$355,000).
Six passengers will ride in the Virgin Galactic craft at a time.
Branson told a fundraising dinner he hoped his space ship would be ready for test flying to the outer atmosphere later this year and able to take passengers up some time next year.