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Noel Vasquez / Getty Images
Ashton Kutcher, seen here at a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game in February, is the 500th customer to sign up for a Virgin Galactic suborbital spaceflight.
Virgin Galactic says uber-celebrity Ashton Kutcher is the company's 500th customer to sign up for a suborbital trip into outer space.
"I gave Ashton a quick call to congratulate and welcome him," Virgin Galactic's billionaire founder, Richard Branson, said today in a blog post announcing that Kutcher was coming on board. "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."
Kutcher, who got his start in television on "That '70s Show" and is now one of the stars of the highly rated sitcom "Two and a Half Men," is said to have a net worth of around $140 million. So the $200,000 fare for a ride on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, also known as the VSS Enterprise, shouldn't break the bank. He's as well-known for his online presence (with 9.8 million Twitter followers) and his gossip-column appeal (due to last year's breakup with Demi Moore) as he is for his filmography.
All this makes him arguably the highest-profile prospective spaceflier confirmed to be on Virgin Galactic's list — although Tom Hanks, Katy Perry, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are reportedly on the list as well. Beyonce and Jay-Z are among other celebs considering a flight. The stars are reportedly all paying their own way, except for physicist Stephen Hawking, who is receiving a free ride courtesy of Branson.
For Stephen Attenborough, Virgin Galactic's commercial director, getting to the 500-passenger point is as big a milestone as getting Ashton Kutcher to sign on. "It's great to get to No. 500," he told me.
It's way too early to put Kutcher's flight on the calendar. SpaceShipTwo is still in the midst of free-glide flight tests, with rocket-powered test flights expected to begin this year. Last year, Branson said he was holding out hope that he and members of his family will be able to take a ride into space as this year's Christmas present. That suggests 2013 could mark the start of commercial service, although Virgin Galactic and its partners at California-based Scaled Composites say the schedule is totally dependent on the outcome of tests at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
In Virgin Galactic's latest showreel, British billionaire Richard Branson talks about the genesis of the company, recent progress and what lies ahead.
The current plan calls for commercial flight operations to be based at Spaceport America in New Mexico. SpaceShipTwo, which is capable of carrying six passengers and two pilots, would be linked up to its wide-winged WhiteKnightTwo carrier airplane and brought up to an altitude of 50,000 feet. At that height, SpaceShipTwo would drop from its mothership and turn on its hybrid rocket engine. The blast would take the craft beyond 62 miles (100 kilometers), the internationally accepted boundary of outer space — a commanding height from which Kutcher and his fellow passengers could see the arc of planet Earth and the dark sky of space above.
There'd be a few minutes of weightlessness, and then the passengers would return to their seats for the descent. After weathering up to 6 G's of acceleration, the fliers would glide down to the landing — and get their astronaut wings back at Spaceport America.
Attenborough said Virgin Galactic is already giving a lot of thought to determining who would fly when. One of the factors in the formula would give priority to customers "roughly in the order that they signed up," he said, but the schedulers also would consider customer preferences and the possibility of achieving firsts in spaceflight (for example, ahem, first prime-time TV star in space). "We're expecting to be able to keep everyone happy," Attenborough told me.
How long do you think it'll be before Kutcher is clicking his camera on the final frontier? And do you suppose there'll be a deal to document everything for reality TV? Feel free to weigh in with your comments below.
More about celebrity spaceflight:
- Fly Justin Bieber into space, scientist says
- Bunnies in jetpacks? It's Playboy Club in space!
- Director James Cameron targets spaceflight
- Celebrities in space?
Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter or adding Cosmic Log's Google+ page to your circle. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for other worlds.
Leave a Comment:
I've never wanted a spaceship to blow up until now.
Well this is an interesting angle on getting some publicity when one's TV show sucks big time !
Maybe it's the nitrus oxide talking.
By the way, I LOVE Two and a Half Men, AND Ashton Kutcher, AND Jon Cryer, and all the rest of the cast.
Tony, it must be "penis envy" that's got you hating on Ashton.
Wow, this is a big news story. Perhaps the biggest news story of the year. Yes I clicked to read the story. I thought maybe there was more to the story like Ashton Kutcher had to go on this flight to get his brain working again or something. Yes the guy has money, but that's all.
BTW America Girl , 2.5 men sucks, always has and always will ! The show is worse now then when Charlie Sheen was the main idiot. Why, Kutcher is an idiot. As far as penis envy . . . How can someone envy Ashton Kutcher`s penis .... he does not have one... he is a pussy.
@roger- 85733
And it's been in Demi's mouth!!! Gross. Hopefully he can get Demi to go with him and they can take American Girl 724855. Hopefully they all get lost never to return!!! By the way I'm sure Ashton doesnt know you exsist American girl and probably doesnt care. It's to bad people like you worship peolpe like that.
If you don't like it, you don't have to watch it. I don't know why'd worry about what's in his pants, but whatever is there Demi Moore sure loves it.
How novel of you to try to start a fight with a woman while you defend another man, maybe there's a good reason. Fine with me, but no need to attack those of us who do like Ashton, or Men.
And fnkheehaw, sounds like more "penis envy" to me, or maybe a crush?
Well obviously his brain is in his penis or he wouldn't have cheated on his wife ON their anniversary.. (or maybe it was her birthday... either way... he is awful.) Can't act worth a flip. As for 2.5 men... for the life of me I never saw anything funny about the show (with either actors). They used canned laughter so much it just turned me off the show. So many other better shows out there. Now some network is putting even more money into Charlies hands to get him on tv again... Really???? Why don't they just try some new talent... someone who actually HAS talent.
The only surprising thing about this is that he's worth $140 million.
@American Girl 724855
You already used the penis envy thing.. It's old now.
Just so you know I'm a woman and I don't have any envy for you, Ashton or Demi. I'm quite comfortable with myself, you on the other hand are obviously not and that's why you envy people such as Asston and Demi.
Try to wait ten mintues to respond to this. You seem like your dying for attention like your heroes By the way you sound like a straight donkey.
Peace out!
@ Americain Girl
Excuse me for saying, but who attacked who.. better go re-read what you commented on before you get more dirt in your face... better yet, I'll post it for everyone to see who attacked who !
Tony-268769 says "Well this is an interesting angle on getting some publicity when one's TV show sucks big time !"
Then you say..."Tony, it must be "penis envy" that's got you hating on Ashton."
How is this attacking you ? How is this attacking Ashton ? Best I recall, the show is not just about Ashton, but I guess when your a kid, you sorta have tunnel vision. Let me ask, are you now Ashtons bitch and have to stick up for a low life cheater ? I'm sure Demi liked getting cheated on right ? I guess you would, chances are you are a cheater too.
Then you have the "Balls" to say " no need to attack those of us who do like Ashton, or Men."
Who attacked who ? Looks to me like you attacked Tony for not liking it.... what gives you the right ?
Ashton already has a head start on that out-in-space thing.
.
Blow up??? No,let it get stuck orbiting the Sun!!!
Fact is you are all passing judgement on Ashton, and each other, all people whom you have never met. The article is about celebs traveling to space but thats why you are reading in the entertainment section. If I had money I would travel to space too. I think it's a cool thing to do and if that is his choice in activites, then he might actually be a pretty cool guy.
So kudos Ashton, regardless of how good the latet two and a half men episode was, why your marrige didn't work out, or whose mouth your penis has been in lately.
Haha, I thought he was already in space.
Doesn't matter what kind of judgement they pass. Ratings say they're the in the minority anyway.
Who F'ing cares?!?!?!
Re: passing judgement on Mr. Kutcher
If I could politely offer, he is a celebrity, of sorts. First known for playing an idiot on That 70s Show, then for his amazing "catalog" of poorly-acted movies. Pile on the marriage to Demi (Cougar) Moore, PUNK'D and various commercials.
Because of this celebrity status (earned or not) he, his talent and the causation for fame are fair game for public announcements of like or dislike.
It's my opinion that he's a supreme example of a child trapped in a man's body. A talentless child, to boot. Once the looks are gone, Mr. Kutcher will finally drop off our radar.
*shrug*
i hope that Stephen Hawking in on the 1st flight. he doesn't have much time (70 years old).
i hope ashton is on the LAST flight and it just keeps going, and going, and going. (oh yeah. he's the olny passenger)
This is news?!
Can they leave him up there? ;-)
Disgusts me that it is $200,000 and there are men, women and children who have no home or food tonight.
Yep. Excess defined.
And how do you know that he isn't spending an equal or greater amount on charitable causes as well?
@Diverdown1: It's not like they take the $200,000 and burn it. It goes to pay the salaries of engineers, pilots, the people who manufacture the equipment and produce the fuel for the rocket, the people who run the spaceport... in other words, it puts food on people's tables. So, what again is it that you are disgusted about?
Rick, Gundeck, thank you. People seem to forget that so-called 'toys for the wealthy' don't suddenly spring from nowhere. Yachts and business jets require people (who are not wealthy themselves) to build and sometimes operate them. And that most philanthropy goes unsung.
What if any of us were one of those people?
I have to think that the guy on the Lincoln assembly line makes about as much as the guy building smaller cars for Ford, but if no one buys high-end cars anymore, and there's no uptick in demand elsewhere to transfer him to...it's layoff city.
And I don't begrudge anyone using legally-earned, after-tax income to have their idea of fun/entertainment/ fulfillment with, and doing it in bigger ways than I can afford. I know I'll never break into the NASA astronaut corps, I have a better shot at professional sports than that. The only way I'll get into space, suborbitally, or higher, is when things get to the point that I can buy a ticket.
I would do this in a heartbeat. Therefore the only real difference between me and Ashton, is the depth of our pockets. So call me selfish 'in spirit' if you wish. I want to go. So there.
Oh by the way, Diver (and BMOC)...before any further disgust, when and to whom was your last charitable contribution?
Amen, Frank. I confess to being a bleeding heart liberal, but I have to chuckle along with you when I see people pontificating at the keyboards of their $2000 Macs and their $700 iPads about how Ashton Kutcher spends his money. One could even argue, that given the high percentage of American made elements in SpaceShip Two that it's better for the American economy to by a flight on that it is to send more money to China. As you state, who am I to argue about what someone spends their money on after donations and taxes? Diverdown1, I assume that you _never— spend money on entertainment?
Here is the link for the Virgin charity site, Virgin Unite: http://www.virginunite.com/Default.aspx?nid=e3cebc02-558b-4264-a645-24dc8ca8d890
Go there and make your pitch for how you are going to end homelessness and feed children with Ashton Kutcher's deposit and Sir Richard might give it to you. Good luck!
Also, here is the list of charities Ashton Kutcher supports: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/15-ashton-kutcher
Maybe while up there he can see all the strife in the world and find a better way to use 200K. Obviously he cant see from here..... what a tool.
I personally think this is a pretty awesome way to spend $200K if you can afford it... but to be fair, PValdes, how much of your hard earned money have you spent combating strife in the world?
Here's a list of what the "tool" does for charity already: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/15-ashton-kutcher
With any luck at all they will leave him out there......what a know-it-all jerk!
Darn, just take the other one and a half men so we can get rid of that silly show. Of course take Charlie Sheen too.
I thought he's in space most of the time?
I'm ready to go. I don't have 200Gs. Darn.....guess I'll have to do loop d loops in the ole Cessna 172.
Must be nice. I can barely afford a plane ticket to NC.
He works hard saying words that someone else wrote. Actors don't get enough recognition.
Good. Maybe he won't come back.
Space Cadet(s). This gives new meaning To "Lost in Space". we cant even get our own Astronauts up into space without depending upon the Russians. does Ashton Kutcher speak russian? (not yet = nyet).
Hey Ashton, how does spending $200,000.00 on a trip to outerspace for yourself serve any one but you?
See Ashton & Demo"s Creepy Pledge to Chairman Barak....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTQawLBC59g
Hollywood Hypocrytes are SO easy to expose.
BTW, is 2 and a Half Men still on TV?
I only have one Request for Ashton...Can You Please Get That "Whip It" Drug Addict Problem,Hollywood Seems to be Having...Under Control.And if Those "Whip Its" have made it to "Ohio"..I suggest,You Tell "Demi"..To come and them..Please.I have a "War Conflict" Name Change,I also have a Young Son..And i would like to keep him Alive..Ya Know what i mean!!
Is Newt Gingrich on the List? If he is, just go a little further and leave him on his Moon Base...
Pretty Please with sugar on top?
To Come and get Them...Every Tank...
You can go home again. All good things must return back whence they came!
Space cadet, for sure.
I saw the headline and had to click to make a comment....I hope it's a one way trip and they leave him out there.
Ground control to Major Ashton.......There are no hot tubs on board. Can you handle it?
I don't care what you opinion is, but if you wouldn't want your 12 year old to read it don't post it. Is your vocabulary is so low that you can't speak without profanity.