Successful Space Tour, Branson Wants To Build A Hotel On The Moon

Richard Branson, dreams of being able to build a hotel on the Moon. (photo: screenshot)

JAKARTA- After successfully flying into space, Richard Branson came back with a crazy idea. This billionaire wants to build a hotel on the moon, which he has always dreamed of. Especially when he looks to the future after his maiden flight with Virgin Galactic.

The space tourism pioneer and billionaire astronaut says future I customers can expect 'more spaceships,' from Virgin. This ultimately reduces travel costs.

It is currently estimated that a ticket to the edge of space with Virgin Galactic, such as Branson's Sunday, July 11 trip, will cost around $250,000. Even though it only took them 90 minutes to take off and finally return to the runway.

Branson also said Virgin Galactic's flight was not the end of his efforts in space, as the company plans to build aircraft that can fly higher and longer.

“Whether we're going to one day build a hotel beyond the moon, which is something I've always dreamed of, or whether we're going to leave it up to my kids to do it, we'll have to see. If I had the time in my life to do it, it would be something I want to do one day," Branson said.

Branson hopes that after the 'crucial moment' that saw him launch from Spaceport America in New Mexico, the space tourism industry will grow rapidly.

Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos will become the second billionaire to go into space on his own plane on Tuesday, July 20. The company also offers short jumps to the edge of space, similar to Virgin Galactic, with an estimated ticket price of $200,000 per seat.

Branson hopes that with more spacecraft and rockets available, it will in time help lower the cost of space travel.

This industry improvement is supported by Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier, who said one day Virgin Galactic could operate 400 flights per year from dozens of spaceports around the world.

VSS Unity is a prototype, which will be replaced with VSS Imagine, a SpaceShip3 class vehicle that will be easier to maintain and build. They will also allow for faster turnarounds between flights, thus allowing for a more regular journey into space.

"Future versions will be engineered with ease of manufacture in mind," Colglazier told MailOnline.

Virgin Galactic, too, is selling a new stake in the hope of raising $500 million to fund future fleet development, including opening other spaceports around the world.

It's unclear where the spaceport will be, but its subsidiary, Virgin Orbit, has a deal with Spaceport Cornwall.

Today more than 600 people have paid for a space tour, and some have had to wait more than 15 years for the opportunity. This makes Virgin Galactic, must increase its capabilities quickly to meet demand.

In fact, it is said that there are already 1,000 more people waiting for the next opportunity, and each has paid a deposit of US$1,000 for that opportunity.