Our 500th astronaut - Ashton Kutcher!
- By Richard Branson -
- Mar 19, 2012
Great news today news from our Astronaut Relations team at Virgin Galactic: our 500th future astronaut customer has just signed up! Even better news is that number 500 is Ashton Kutcher. I gave Ashton a quick call to congratulate and welcome him. He is as thrilled as we are at the prospect of being among the first to cross the final frontier (and back!) with us and to experience the magic of space for himself.
As you can see from the video, our spaceships are not only very beautiful but are built and flying in the final stages of our exhaustive test flight program. We are guided by safety and so will ensure that everything is just as safe as it can possibly be before we start commercial services – particularly as I will be on the first commercial flight with my kids!
Virgin Galactic is the most exciting business that we’ve ever launched and I still sometimes have to pinch myself that it’s for real. Ashton is joining a fast expanding group of true pioneers who are on their way to a life changing experience and a place in the history books. It’s great to have him on board.
Ashton and I will be joined by fellow entrepreneur Shervin Pishevar, who signed up as the 499th passenger. I loved hearing Shervin’s enthusiasm for the adventure after he had booked his ticket: “Ashton and I are good friends and we realised that we both shared a childhood dream of going to space. To be able to go up in the same spaceship will be incredible as the 499th and 500th on Virgin Galactic! I believe in the power of humanity and innovation allowing to us realise any dream and vision!"
Well said Shervin! It’s good to know someone is as excited as me!
There lots more images, films and information at virgingalactic.com – you could even become astronaut 501!
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
