Feasibility Study and Future Projections of Suborbital Space Tourism at the Example of Virgin Galactic

Chapter 3.2.4 Incredible Adventures Incredible Adventures, based in Sarasota, USA, is a business specialised in offering a range of adventure programs, including Russian space training, high-altitude jet flights, and space flights. The company exists since 1993, initially under the name MIGS etc. In 1996, controlling interest in the company was sold to venture capitalist Norman Fast. Currently, Jane Reifert is the president of the company.The vision defined by the company is “to deliver the most incredible adventures available at the fairest possible price.” (Incredible Adventures, 2008) On October 4, 2004, Incredible Adventures made a marketing agreement with Rocketplane Limited, a company engaged in space travel. In detail, the companies decided on jointly taking reservations for Rocketplane’s suborbital space flights. On December 12, 2007, the company announced that it would already offer more than 30 different adventures in 8 countries hitherto. (Incredible Adventures, 2007) As mentioned above, a current partner of the company is Rocketplane Limited. Furthermore, Incredible Adventures made a plethora of promotions over the past years, including programs in conjunction with Ford, Maggi, Budweiser, and Dr Pepper, just to name some of them. Last but not least, the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Russia, is used in order to prepare clients for space travel. Arising from a short enquiry of the author about the different offers at Incredible Adventures, Mrs. Reifert stated that “we are not directly involved in suborbital space tourism [...] we will help to sell seats on suborbital flights and help to sell or organize training for participants, but we aren't building or planning to operate a vehicle ourselves.” (Reifert, 2008) Since the company has broad experience and is very engaged in space-related operations, it is considered being kind of a competitor to other businesses in the author’s opinion. Due to the fact that the company’s suborbital flights will be carried out by Rocketplane Limited, information on the ticket prices, space flight program, proposed spaceport and the proposed vehicle is provided in the following.