"Let the journey begin," runs the informal slogan for Virgin Galactic's would-be tourist craft SpaceShipTwo, but the first thing you'll be reaching for if you want to see the Earth from an excellent vantage point is your wallet: The 2-1/2 hour trip, which entrepreneur Richard Brancson and Virgin Airlines hope to be regularly scheduling next year, will cost $200,000.

Yesterday, Branson officially unveiled a model of his SpaceShipTwo and carrier vehicle WhiteKnightTwo at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, saying "Even though the dollar isn't worth much anymore, $200,000 is still too expensive for the majority of people. Within five years of launching, I would hope the price would come down fairly dramatically."

Nevertheless, over 200 folks ponying up a combined $30 million in deposit money are on the waiting list.

Launches will be performed from New Mexico and will include about five minutes of zero gravity for passengers. No word yet on in-flight movies, snacks (even in that funky form shown in 2001: A Space Odyssey) or Howard Johnson's in space, though.

There are a few artist's conception-type animated videos of SpaceShipTwo on YouTube; MPR isn't too sure about that actual takeoff out of the lower atmosphere as envisioned, though. Let me get this straight; the spaceship portion of the craft is detached from the aircraft and fires rocket ignition from a free fall starting at 40,000 feet or so? Yeesh.