Mark Rocket first New Zealander to book Virgin space flight
{{date|May 22, 2006}}
{{New Zealand}}
[[w:Mark Rocket|Mark Rocket]], a [[w:Christchurch|Christchurch]] Internet entrepreneur, has purchased a $300,000 flight into space with [[w:Virgin Galactic|Virgin Galactic]].

In 2008 he will take off for space from the [[w:Mojave Desert|Mojave Desert]], near [[w:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] in an eight man [[w:spacecraft|spacecraft]].  He will spend about 10 minutes in space.

He has said that he always wanted to go into space ever since seeing the first [[w:Star Wars|Star Wars]] movie. He even changed his name because of the movie, but won't say what from.

He has already been to [[w:California|California]] to see the development of the rocket and visited the [[w:International Space Development Conference|International Space Development Conference]].

Mark Rocket said: "I guess I'm just a real space nut."

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10382948
|title='Rocket man' hopes to be first Kiwi in space
|author=NZPA/NZ Herald
|pub=The Press
|date=May 22, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=96137
|title=Rocket man books in to space race
|author=Newstalk ZB
|pub=newstalkzb.co.nz
|date=May 22, 2006}}

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[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[category:Oceania]]
[[category:Science and technology]]
[[category:Space]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
Mark Rocket, a Christchurch Internet entrepreneur, has purchased a $300,000 flight into space with Virgin Galactic.

In 2008 he will take off for space from the Mojave Desert, near Los Angeles in an eight man spacecraft.  He will spend about 10 minutes in space.

He has said that he always wanted to go into space ever since seeing the first Star Wars movie. He even changed his name because of the movie, but won't say what from.

He has already been to California to see the development of the rocket and visited the International Space Development Conference.

Mark Rocket said: "I guess I'm just a real space nut."

*
New Zealand Star Wars