In the past, US Airways has teamed up with Space Adventures to offer its “Zero Gravity” awards. Once again, the two have teamed up, but the award is no longer a chance to walk like an astronaut — it’s to be an astronaut!
Absurd as it sounds, it is now possible to cash in your Dividend Miles for a trip to space. For a mere 10,000,000 miles, you will board a sub-orbital flight headed to the International Space Station. Before heading towards the moon, you must complete an intense four-day training session as well as health screenings.
Don’t worry if you don’t have 10 million Dividend Miles just yet — the Reusable Launch Vehicle is still in development. However, Space Adventures anticipates space tourism flights will begin between 2003 and 2005.
In the meantime, Space Adventures offers a Journey to the Edge of Space. For 250,000 miles plus $8,000, you will board a MiG-25 which takes you high enough to view a horizon 715 miles across. You’ll see the earth’s curvature as well as travel at Mach 2.5. Both of the packages include a two-night stay at one of Moscow’s finest hotels plus your own flightsuit and a video of your journey.
For more information about space travel, visit http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/redeemingmiles/space.htm.