Space travel is final frontier for big spenders
By Beth Teitell
Boston Herald Columnist
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
As any traveler knows, it’s the little extras that get you. Case in point: A travel agency that offers space travel to tourists is now pushing a package that includes a 90-minute space walk (outside the Russian segments of the international space station) - for a mere $15 million surcharge on your $20 million 10-day trip to the station.
And you thought the macadamia nuts in the mini-bar were pricey. Here you are, already shelling out top dollar for what is, let’s be frank, pretty much of a schlep, and Space Adventures Ltd. is charging you extra just to enjoy the view? Better you should use the money to get a really nice TV and watch ‘‘Apollo 13” in the comfort of your own home. Tom Hanks is excellent in that movie.
Personally I’m not heading to space anytime soon - my frequent flier miles are nowhere near enough - but if I were, I’d definitely splurge on the walk - as long as it came with free in-flight entertainment at the very least. Think of it: You’re going to be on the shuttle for a long time, singing ‘‘One Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall” is not going to cut it, diversion-wise. While I’m at it, I want a manager’s welcome cocktail, transfers and USA Today at my door. And a souvenir picture of me and the moon. I’d want that to show my friends, enemies and pretty much strangers on the street - because if I’m going to pay that kind of money, there have to be showoff possibilities. Otherwise what’s the point, right?
But you know they’d probably gouge you for the photo, too, forcing you to buy one of those multipacks with eight wallet-size photos, three 5-by-7s and a class photo (of you and the other millionaires). In fact, once you were outside, feeling all Neil Armstrong-ish, they’d hit you up with some other offers: ‘‘Hey, for $2 million more, we’ll play the theme song from ‘2001’ while you walk, and for another million or two, we’ll toss in a crackly recording of you saying, ‘One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’ ”
Space Adventures, which arranged for the first space trip by a civilian back in 2001, hasn’t had any takers for its walks just yet, and indeed needs to get approval from NASA and the space station’s 14 other international partners, but customers are apparently interested.
You know it’s just a matter of time until the price comes down and everyone will be able to walk in space. Soon the heavens will be jammed with fanny-packed tourists munching on intergalactic Cinnabons.
Then the really rich people will be able to stay right here on Earth and stroll. What a trip.
