Fly me to the moon

As Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two gets closer to bringing space tourists just outside the earth’s atmosphere, the industry is expanding, and the newest offering is a trip around the moon — for $150 million a seat.

The steep ticket price gets you a seat aboard a three-person shuttle. After two days crossing open space, the shuttle will reach the celestial body and circle it, giving passengers a glimpse at the dark side of the moon — a rare sight seen by only 24 astronauts.

After coming around the moon and witnessing the spectacle of earthrise — where the earth will appear to be rising over the horizon of the moon — the shuttle will return to earth.

Of course, at that ticket price, you could take 750 trips to near space with Virgin Galactic, but for those with the cash, it would certainly offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The first private lunar excursion is expected to blastoff in 2015.