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For Sh15m, you can blast off to space with Virgin Galactic
PM Raila Odinga pins a Kenyan flag sticker to Ashish Thakkar (right). By hoisting the Kenyan flag, alongside the Ugandan and Tanzanian flags in space, Thakkar hopes to demonstrate to the world the opportunities available in the three East African nations. Photo/DENNIS OKEYO
Posted Friday, March 12 2010 at 00:00
The forum was hosted in Dubai.
At the Dubai forum Virgin Galactic’s president Will Whitemore said 330 people had signed up including Thakkar.
Another company Exalibur Almaz is looking at taking passengers further into space on a five to seven days trip.
The price tag would be higher benchmarked against the $35 million cost of a one-week stay on the International Space Station.
Thakkar made decision to travel to space on the spur of a moment at an airport when he chose to fill an application form.
The idea became a reality when Virgin Galactic called him for an interview and his application was accepted.
As he proudly hoists the three East African flags, he will be one of the few to enjoy this new mode of travel.
Without doubt, such luxury will remain out of reach for many people in the world, majority of them still struggling to put bread and butter on the table.
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