Commercial Space Travel Coming Soon!

Commercial space travel is becoming more of a reality thanks to the strides made by billionaire investor Sir Richard Branson and his company (of his companies) Virgin Galactic. While the company hasn't officially taken any clients on a zero-gravity space ride, they are gaining grounds making the final preparations.

Last Friday, Virgin Galactic performed the company's third launch of the SpaceShip Two spacecraft, which also happened to gain the highest altitude. A WhiteKnightTwo carrier jet lifted the SpaceShip Two spacecraft from the Mohave Air and Space Port where it reached an altitude of roughly 46,000 feet. Upon reaching this new all-time record altitude for Virgin Galactic, the carrier jet released the SpaceShip Two spacecraft.

SpaceShip Two pilots, Dave Mackay and Mark Stucky, were faced with the task of controlling and navigating through the tip of Earth's atmosphere as they flew down from 46,000. According to a statement by the two pilots, they reached an impressive Mach 1.4 after engaging the spacecraft's hybrid rocket.

It took the SpaceShip Two just ten minutes to reach the ground after being released by the WhiteKnightTwo carrier jet.

"I couldn’t be happier to start the New Year with all the pieces visibly in place for the start of full space flights. 2014 will be the year when we will finally put our beautiful spaceship in her natural environment of space," said Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic CEO.

Branson certainly has bold plans for commercial space travel, with his statements claiming to have the operation fully functional by the end of this year. Of course, the billionaire mogul investor is known for his eccentric ways, so this shouldn't come as a surprise. However, commercial space travel is bound to generate some unique hurdles, one of which being safety. This is a completely uncharted territory, so there's bound to be some potential hazards along the way.

So, how much will a ticket on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShip Two spacecraft cost? You can actually reserve a spot on this zero-gravity ride for $250,000. Even though it's not fully operational, 680 people have paid their quarter of a million for a reservation, including singer and songwriter Katy Perry and famed actor Leonardo DiCarprio.

And if you aren't able to get a spot on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShip Two after paying $250,000, the company has guaranteed to refund your money. Of course, you could always choose to take a one-way trip to Mars instead if you're looking for a real adventure.