Torontonians express interest in space tourism

At least two Torontonians are ready to take a tourist flight into space.

British tycoon Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic team is putting the final touches on its spaceship. The first flight is set for late next year.

Virgin sales representatives were in Toronto on Tuesday to gauge interest.

For $200,000 US, tourists will be able take the trip 110 kilometres above the Earth in a Virgin Galactic spaceship.

Each flight can carry six passengers and two pilots.

The trip will last for two hours, but only four minutes will be in zero gravity where tourists can float in weightlessness.

"Everyone's really interested in space. And whether they want to go or not, they are still fascinated with the idea of whether or not they want to leave the planet," said Caroline Winser, Virgin'shead of astronaut sales.

She says even though the trip is short, 300 people around the world have put down a deposit.

Stephanie Anevitch, an accredited space agent for Virgin in Toronto, says an entrepreneur and a businessman from Toronto have booked flights on the spaceship and there's plenty more interest.

"Oh, I have lots of inquiries, lots of inquiries right now. I have maybe 10 people who are quite serious," said Anevitch.

Cindy Scarborough says she is afraid of galactic flight but appreciates others may want to slip Earth's gravitational pull.

"I mean if you have the money and you want to do something that hardly anyone else can do it might be a good investment," said Scarborough.

Also included in Virgin'sspacepackage are three days of flight training and a splashdown party after the return to Earth.