On a mission to preview special space flights

Nelson space agent Jeff Leckey will get to see next month's unveiling of SpaceShipTwo, which will take private passengers to space.

He is one of three House of Travel representatives from New Zealand to be invited to attend the world premiere in Mojave in California on December 8.

SpaceShipTwo is a suborbital spaceplane developed by The Spaceship Company, a joint venture between Scaled Composites and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group.

Mr Leckey got his invitation because House of Travel was appointed a Virgin Galactic official space agent in New Zealand three years ago.

It is not like selling the usual holiday package, and he has had to learn about G-forces and space-flight preparation, in case any Nelson or Marlborough travellers fancy booking a space flight.

Mr Leckey confesses he is tempted too. "Since I was a kid, I've been fascinated about space."

He hasn't booked yet because he needs to save a bit more for the US$200,000 (NZ$344,400) ticket. In the meantime, he is excited about SpaceShipTwo's unveiling and will fly, at a somewhat lower altitude, to Los Angeles for an update on the new spacecraft and spaceport before heading to the Mojave Desert.

WhiteKnightTwo, the jet-powered carrier aircraft that will launch SpaceShipTwo from 50,000 feet, was unveiled last year and has completed test flights.

After SpaceShipTwo's unveiling, it will be extensively tested before its first commercial flights.

So far 300 people from around the world, including two Aucklanders and two Christchurch space enthusiasts, have booked seats.

- © Fairfax NZ News