As visitors clear the new line of security scanners and emerge into the Dubai Airshow's main hall they can consider what it might be like to launch into space, sporting a new Under Armour "spacesuit" for the ride of a lifetime with Virgin Galactic. The suits are presented in two cases by the show entrance.
Virgin Galactic operates the reusable SpaceShipTwo spaceflight system—consisting of WhiteKnightTwo, a custom-built carrier aircraft, and SpaceShipTwo itself, which will take "astronauts" from 50,000 feet, where the craft is released, up to 50 miles above the Earth.
A seat aboard SpaceShipTwo costs $250,000, and according to Virgin Galactic, more than 600 people have put down deposits to reserve a ticket. Before tourist flights begin, however, the company has teamed with the Italian Air Force to carry out research flights next year.