Tourists Into Space

Planned Jet To Take Tourists Into Space
PARIS - European aerospace company EADS on Wednesday unveiled a model of a jet designed to take tourists into space, rocketing paying passengers to weightlessness at more than 62 miles above the Earth.

EADS Astrium said it hoped the space jet - which looks much like a conventional aircraft although it is outfitted with rocket engines - will be operational by next year, with the first flight scheduled for 2012. Tickets are expected to cost $199,000-$265,000, said the company, which displayed a full-scale model in Paris.