Gadgetopia

Shatner aims for real ‘Star Trek’: This bodes very well for the Virgin Galactic venture. Compared to the $20 million Dennis Tito paid to go to the international space station, $210,000 isn’t a bad deal.

[William Shatner] is among more than 7,000 people who have told Richard Branson they would gladly pay him $210,000 for a trip aboard his planned spacecraft, the entrepreneur said Friday.

[…] In all, more than $1.45 billion has been pledged — years before the Virgin Galactic spaceship is even built, Branson said.

You do need to temper this apparent bargain, however, with the knowledge that this is a very short flight. Tito got 7 days, 22 hours, 4 minutes for his $20 million. You’re going to get about 30 minutes (if that) for your $210,000.