Kiwis to fly sky high

STACY SQUIRES

INSPIRED: budding astronauts, from left, Jackie Maw, Makouri Scott and Ron Stroeven look into space.

Relevant offers

National

Taser used to end brawl Patients 'will get sicker' Lights switched off around NZ Domestic violence cases increasing Survey reveals a clear leader Uneasy rider labels ACC rise 'absurd' ACC backlash Smith rues his 'unfortunate' suicide remark Researcher criticises motorbike levy logic Nutritionist calls for NZ food watchdog system

Four Kiwi astronauts-in-training, who will go where fewer than 500 people have gone before, are putting New Zealand on the galactic map.

Jackie Maw, Mark Rocket, Makouri Scott and Ron Stroeven, have bought their $US200,000 ($NZ313,074) tickets to be some of the pioneer passengers on the first commercial flights into space the product of Sir Richard Branson's space holiday business Virgin Galactic.

The space-travel enthusiasts met for the first time yesterday at Clearwater Resort to discuss the details of their voyage that could be as early as next year.

The next time they meet, the group will be travelling more than 110km above the Earth.

Christchurch real estate consultant Jackie Maw bought her ticket two years ago when she heard of the venture while living in London.

"I jumped at the chance. I've always had a fascination with space, and with speed. I was always fascinated with the Apollo trips.

"It will be a very emotional experience. I watched the DVD and I just thought, `I have to be a part of this'.

"I feel incredibly privileged. It's a humbling experience."

Her family took the news that she was heading into space smoothly.

"I played the video to my family," she said.

"They've come to expect the unexpected from me. They weren't surprised at all."

Fellow Christchurch passenger, internet entrepreneur Mark Rocket, was the first New Zealander to book his space getaway. He said he had been wanting to go to space his "whole life". He was most looking forward to experiencing rocket-powered flight.

Wanaka artist Scott said he "can't wait" for take-off. He saved for three years to buy his ticket. "It's a lot of money but I think it will be worthwhile. It's going to be a spiritual experience."

His key incentive for his trip was to raise money for charity and draw attention to environmental issues.

"I'm going to be drawing everything down from the ground, to leaving the atmosphere, to landing. I will create a series of work and give all the money to charity."

Auckland-based Stroeven was the last to join the space contingent. His motivation was to "get off the planet, and see the cradle of humanity".He was glad to be on a later flight.

"If 400 people go before me I figure I'll be safe."

The astronauts will undergo four days of pre-flight training before lift-off. They have already visited the National Training and Aerospace Research Centre in Philadelphia for centrifuge training to prime them for the intense G-forces of space launch.

The "mothership" jet, White Knight Two, will shuttle the astronauts in Space Ship Two 50,000 feet into suborbital space. From there, the space ship will leave Earth's atmosphere. At the peak of its arc the astronauts will be weightless for four minutes.

House of Travel consultant Ian Collier, one of 10 accredited space agents in New Zealand, said the response from Kiwis had been overwhelming. "New Zealand ... has the highest ratio of Virgin Galactic astronauts worldwide by head of population. Four from 4 million."

- © Fairfax NZ News