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Four amateur New Zealand astronauts are among those who will travel on one of the first commercial flights into space.
Jackie Maw, Mark Rocket, Makouri Scott and Ron Stroeven met for the first time this week to discuss the details of their trip, with Sir Richard Branson's space-holiday business Virgin Galactic.
The four, who each bought a US$200,000 ($331,300) ticket and have already visited the National Training and Aerospace Research Centre in Philadelphia for training to prepare them for the G-forces of space launch, could blast off as early as next year.
The White Knight Two will shuttle the astronauts in Space Ship Two 15,240m into suborbital space, and from there it will leave Earth's atmosphere.
Ms Maw, a Christchurch real estate consultant, bought her ticket two years ago when she heard of the venture while living in London. "I jumped at the chance ... I feel incredibly privileged."
House of Travel consultant Ian Collier said the response from New Zealanders had been overwhelming. "[NZ] has the highest ratio of Virgin Galactic astronauts worldwide by head of population. Four from 4 million."
- NZPA
