Next... Travel & Space (written in 2014)

Virgin Galactic

Richard Branson's latest commercial [ad]venture is sub-orbital space flights for space tourists. A rocket plane that is lifted initially by a carrier vehicle before blasting skywards, before taking passengers on a quick sub-orbital flights above the earth’s atmosphere.
The cost is around $200,000 (£120,000), the trip is about two hours long, and the time spent in what would officially be regarded as ‘Outer Space’ will be about six minutes. Passengers will be able to float around in a weightless atmosphere.
There has already been a huge uptake of tickets, with a released figure of 550 paying their “20,000 deposit by May 2012. If you are one of the lucky first timers, you could get to join the likes of Stephen Hawking, Tom Hanks and Angelina Jolie.

Mars One

In 2023 a non-profit organisation is planning to settle people on Mars. Before that time it is the Dutch organisation’s plan to build a habitable, sustainable settlement which will be planned and designed to receive new residents every two years.

To achieve their aims, Mars One has developed a £4bn plan of action that will feature the use of existing technologies along with people and companies well versed in the logistics and supply of space travel materials and planning.

The Mars One project has some wealthy investors and interested parties. For example, marketing and management gurus IMG, will be involved. They will turn the participants into brands and major celebrities – think Neil Armstrong, but a globalised news world, multiplied by a factor Mars to the boring old moon. 
Picture
The Mars settlers will need to deal with the inhabitants prior to making their future homes
Paul Römer, creator Big Brother, is also involved – his links and contacts in the small screen industry would suggest something not too dissimilar to a real life Truman Show. Or, in Römer’s words, “This mission to Mars can be the biggest media event in the world," before adding, "Reality meets talent show with no ending and the whole world watching. Now there's a good pitch!"
The progress plan is well under way, and it is expected that by 2016 a supply mission will be launched for the Red Planet. This will have over two tonnes of parts, photovoltaic panels and supplies. It craft will land close to the expected building site.
Two years later, another Mars Rover project will beam back a 24 hours a day broadcast, which will presumably feature major help from the afore-mentioned people, to whip up a worldwide frenzy of interest.
By 2021, two separate trips would have taken all the equipment, supplies and life support equipment, to build a small colony. 
Another Mars Rover would have already landed to beam back a different feed and coverage to the earth dwellers, who would presumably be watching the red dirt and occasional packing crate, avidly by then.
The first batch of Mars Team One astronauts will land on Mars in 2023. 
The pioneers will connect the pre-assembled parts that have been waiting for construction after six trips, since 2016. 
The living and working pods will be erected, the food production units will be activated and the solar photovoltaic panels would be set into action.
Further materials, camera equipment and cargo will arrive over a period of time during the following months. 
In 2025, the next batch of astronauts will make their journey to join the original settlers.
There are obstacles to the plan. While the earth is protected from solar winds by a strong magnetic field, Mars is not. There is no liquid water – this will need to be extracted purified. The atmospheric pressure is virtually a vacuum, radiation levels are higher and temperatures vary wildly.
The pods, for example, will need to be quickly covered with several metres of the planet’s surface to combat radiation issues, but presumably, all of the potential obstacles will be tackled prior to anyone leaving earth, and emerging technologies should take care of some of the worst aspects of the hostility provided by Mars.
It has not put off applicants. Already, over 10,000 applicants have registered an interest and 100,000s of thousands from all around the world, are expected to apply before the selection process begins.

Summer 2013

Below is a link  to the Virgin Galactic booking page, where you can fill in your details, pay your deposit and be part of the future. 
If, however, you don’t have a hand $200,000 lying around, you can save as you go, with vouchers from Richard’s other website on the left. All his other “Experiences” are also available if you want a less expensive thrill.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT

From the Mars One Website: “A central point to Mars One's mission is the emigration of the human astronauts. Mars becomes their new home, where they will live and work for what will likely be the remainder of their lives. While it is possible that, within the lifetime of the early settlers on Mars, there will be opportunity to bring one or more back to Earth, it cannot be anticipated nor expected. Consider the following fact: to return a human to Earth, a fully assembled and fuelled launch vehicle (rocket) must be available, capable of escaping the gravitational field of Mars with ample, on-board life support systems and supplies for up to a seven months voyage. There is also a point in time after which the human body will have adjusted to the 38% gravitation field of Mars, and be incapable of returning to the Earth's much stronger gravity. This is due to the total physiological change in the human body, which includes reduction in bone density, muscle strength, and circulatory system capacity. After a prolonged stay on Mars, the human body will not be able to adjust to the higher gravity of Earth upon return.”

Take a look at the law man beating up the wrong guy.
Oh man, look at those cavemen go.
It's a best-selling show.
David Bowie
Life on Mars, 1971