Vesa Heilala has made reservation on Virgin Galactic flight into space. The flight will last about 2h30min and will take the passengers up to 100 km (62 miles), some 5 minutes will be spent in zero gravity. The trip is expected to take place in 2013.

As a child I used to read Space Travel, a comic book, and follow Star Trek on TV.  I have seen the Star Wars movies, and then got an idea…. why not? Everybody has a dream. Some dream about having a nice summer cottage, others about a handsome sailing boat…  My dream is to take this trip and soar into space. Through this website I will share my feelings and experiences along the way, and also some facts about the project. My journey began in January 2010 when I paid the deposit for the trip. In the summer 2010, I negotiated a loan from my bank and paid the rest. For me, the total costs were EUR 151, 000 (200,000 US dollars). In the meantime, Virgin Galactic is doing all kinds of tests, which for me means just waiting.

Virgin Galactic is a member of Virgin Group, which is owned by Sir Richard Branson. Branson is enthusiastic about avitation. He takes the first flight to space with his family; wife, two children and over 90 -years old mother.

Winter hat and rocket in hand. Photo Kotisivukone 2011/12.

Sir Richard Branson and Vesa Heilala October 17, 2011.

I visited Spaceport America in October 17 th 2011, where the fligts are made. I saw there the ships and I met other future astronauts. Before my flight I will complete a Zero-G flight. It is amazing to be involved in this project and to be one of the first users for the ships. There are two Finns who have booked the flight with Virgin Galactic (the population of  Finland 5.5 million).  There has been 500 people in the space from 40 countries in 50 years. No Finns have been to space yet. Two Finns will fly to space with Virgin Galactic in year 2013.

International Travel Fair, Helsinki, Finland, 22 Jan 2011. Ready for the space, Suomi T-shirt on (Photo, Markku Seppänen)

 Vesa Heilala at the Rock Planterium Jyväskylä, March 2010. (Photo, Heli Mutikainen)

 Join the Facebook group ”Lähetä Suomalainen Astronautti Vesa Heilala Avaruuteen” to keep up to date (in Finnish only, sorry)