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Volvo Offers Free Seat on First Commercial Space Flight

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Volvos Seats are Comfortable, But Weightless?

Anyone whos ever sat inside a Volvo can attest to the Swedish automaker making great seats, but now its seats are literally out of this world!

Just announced, Volvo is planning to give away a seat on the first commercial flight of Virgin Galactic.

Virgin Galactic? If you havent heard of the worlds first commercial space tourism operator, one of billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Bransons more adventurous

Anyone whos ever sat inside a Volvo can attest to the Swedish automaker making great seats, and the XC90 V8 adds serious power to the mix. (Photo: Volvo of North America)

The contest was announced as a commercial during Super Bowl XXXIX, a game that saw the New England Patriots take down the Philadelphia

The twist in the Volvo TV ad came near its end, when the ships pilot revealed himself as Richard Branson, founder and chairman of The Virgin Group of Companies which owns Virgin Galactic. (Photo: Volvo of North America)

During the 30-second ad, Volvo showed its new XC90 V8 luxury sport utility, comparing its Yamaha-built powerplant to a rocket taking off into space. The twist came near the commercials end, when the ships pilot reveals himself as Branson, founder and chairman of The Virgin Group of Companies, owner of Virgin Galactic.

The galactic tour company will officially open for business later this year, and subject to the requisite safety and regulatory hurdles, expects to begin flights by 2007. (Photo: Virgin Galactic) align="justify">The galactic tour company will officially open for business later this year, and subject to the requisite safety and regulatory hurdles, expects to begin flights by 2007. During its first five years the company plans on training approximately 3,000 astronauts, reinvesting revenues into a new generation of space ships in order to enhance future space ventures.

Virgin Galactics spacecraft are expected to be modeled after SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded, reusable space vehicle to ever be produced. In 2004 it won the Ansari X Prize by executing the first privately funded, manned

In case you were wondering, the seat on the sub-orbital flight, which also includes three days of pre-flight training, is valued at $200,000. (Photo: Virgin Galactic)

suborbital space flight.

SpaceShipOne launched from a conventional runway and achieved sub-orbit, allowing its passengers to experience weightlessness while viewing the world below. When returning to Earth, the spacecraft transformed into a V-shaped "shuttlecock", which allowed it to glide through the atmosphere without overheating, before morphing back into a conventional aircraft shape to prepare for landing.

If a seat on Virgin Atlantics maiden voyage interests you, sigh up at www.boldlygo.com from now until February 22nd. The winner will be announced March 24 at the New York International Auto Show, no doubt with Sir Richard Branson on hand.

In case you were wondering, the seat on the sub-orbital flight, which also includes three days of pre-flight training, is valued at $200,000.