INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Virgin Galactic is already embracing virtual and augmented reality to communicate how it wants to bring space travel to the general public,
but the company could use the tech to teach you how to travel to space.TheIndianSubcontinent spoke to Tom Westray, Creative Lead at Virgin
Galactic, at VR World in London, about how the company is using VR and its aims for the future.Westray said, "In Virgin Galactic's eyes we
know [virtual reality] is going to be a big part of our future, not only in terms of marketing and events perspective but we think we can
take it into astronaut training and help the experience of our astronauts as well."Customers of Virgin Galactic won't be trained astronauts
with years of experience before they're sent into space
Instead it'll be normal people who have paid for the privilege of travel.Space oddityCurrently the price of a ticket with Virgin Galactic
stands at $250,000, but there's no estimated flight date for any of the 650+ people who have already expressed an interest
The company is looking to integrate virtual reality into the short training process when the flights are ready to start.Westray said, "Our
customers will come down to our space port for four days
They fly on the fourth day and those first three days are training
So certainly [virtual reality] is going to be the next chapter for us."Exactly when the first Virgin Galactic flights will be ready to take
off is still unclear, but by the time the company is ready to send tourists into space we may be experiencing a whole new wave of virtual
