the first 84 passengers to experience
a flight," explains the entrepreneur.
So what motivated him to sign up?
"I was never a space fanatic or a
thrill-seeker," ponders Upchurch.
"I love travel because it takes you
out of your comfort zone, opens
your mind, and helps you grow as
a person. Seeing things from a new
perspective is my motivation and
everyone who has been to space has
said it is life-changing."
There's another reason for
Upchurch's interest—his company,
Virtuoso, is an Accredited Space
Agent for Virgin Galactic's VSS
Enterprise—the commercial
spaceship which will whisk
passengers like Upchurch into space.
"The tickets cost a significant sum
of money, but we work in the luxury
sector and frequently sell exclusive-
use travel—private jets, island and
yachts—which command similar
price tags," points out Upchurch,
who believes ticket prices will
inevitably drop. "Virgin Galactic
has always had its eye on the goal
of making suborbital space travel
more egalitarian, and not something
reserved for only the super wealthy,"
adds Upchurch. "Once commercial
space flights begin operating on a
consistent schedule, efficiencies
will naturally occur, driving down
costs and ticket prices. The first
passengers will pave the way, and
the goal is that eventually it becomes
something more in reach for others."
So, watch this space—30-minute
flights from London to New York—
and potentially a holiday to Mars—
could become a reality much sooner
than we think. Just don't forget those
compression socks. nREADER’S DIGESTJULY 2019 • 83GHOSTLY GAGS
Why did the ghost go to the doctor? To get his boo-ster shot.
What do you call a haunted chicken? A poultry geist.What did the monster eat after having his teeth fixed by the dentist?
His dentist.Why are there fences around cemetaries? Because people are dying
to get in.Why don't skeletons like parties? They have no body to dance with.
Why doesn't Dracula have any friends? Because he's a pain in the neck!(^)
SOURCE: HELP! THE GRANDCHILDREN ARE COMING BY MIKE HASKING AND CLIVE WHICHELOW