US entrepreneur joins ranks in space tourism

NEW YORK, Sep 29 (Reuters) A US rocket entrepreneur joined the ranks attempting to get space tourism off the ground.

Jim Benson, who founded space hardware company SpaceDev about a decade ago, has set up Benson Space Company with a mission, he said, to ''open space for all of humanity.'' The announcement about his new venture came as British billionaire Richard Branson unveiled the design of the space planes he intends to use to fly passengers around space.

''A new race to space is on,'' California-based Benson told Reuters yesterday. ''I plan to spend the next several years creating the possibility that anyone who wants to go to space will be able to, safely and affordably.'' Benson acknowledges he has technological and financial challenges ahead. He raised 1 million dollars to kick-start his venture but has now embarked on a second round of financing to raise up to 50 million dollars. He is in talks with SpaceDev management about the design and development of a space plane.

The dream of affordable space tourism took a big step to reality two years ago when SpaceShipOne, funded by media mogul Paul Allen and designed by aerospace designer Burt Rutan, brushed the edge of space with a man on board.

SpaceDev furnished the rocket motors for SpaceShipOne.

Now a growing number of adventure-seeking entrepreneurs and companies are eyeing the potential for space tourism.

Research firm Futron estimates the space tourism market could generate revenues of 1 billion dollar a year by 2021 with the potential for up to 15,000 suborbital passengers.

So far four private tourists have visited space, with the latest, 40-year-old Iranian-American telecom billionaire Anousheh Ansari, now on board the International Space Station.

But they paid 20 million dollars each.

Branson and Benson want to make space flights affordable.

Branson's space tours firm, Virgin Galactic, plans to take tourists into space by 2009 for about 0,000 each.

Yesterday, Branson unveiled the interior and cabin decor for his rocket-powered vehicle SpaceShipTwo, which has been designed by Rutan. The space plane will carry six passengers and two pilots for a 2.5-hour flight.

Benson says he plans to seat four people in his space craft with tickets costing between 100,000 dollars to 300,000 dollars each.

''Market research shows there are thousands of people who are willing and can afford to pay for the kind of trip we are planning.

To be an astronaut is very exciting,'' he said.

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