One of the most popular childhood dreams would be to fly outside the earth and see up close the beautiful wonders we can only see from the ground. Up to now, technological advances have been making that out-of-the world trip easier and more accessible. Finally, it's possible for tourists to break through the atmosphere and circle the moon - thing is, a seat costs US$ 100 million.

Russia's Soyuz spacecraft will be taking a couple of passengers and a pilot to a private circumlunar expedition thanks to Space Adventures from Vienna, Virginia. The ride is yet to see the big blue world from beyond the clouds, but there's no need to worry. Eric Anderson, Space Adventures President and CEO said:

The Soyuz was originally designed as a circumlunar spacecraft. It hasn't flown with people around the Moon, of course. But the Soyuz would fly a free-return trajectory - a boomerang course - around the Moon. So there's not a lot that needs to be done to the Soyuz to accommodate for that...it could probably fly around the Moon right now. There will be some upgrades to the communications systems...and we would make the window bigger too.

A test drive in unpiloted mode is likely, but Anderson doesn't see it as necessary. Seats are booked until 2009 and no problems are foreseen. The plan is two to four flights a year, but talks about increasing the numbers are ongoing according to Anderson. Flights are going to be a two-passenger mission, thus amounting to US$200 million.

Success of these private expeditions can "change the way the whole world thinks about private spaceflight," he added. The big man also said something promising for those who can't afford so much to walk outside the reaches of gravity. "It is definitely doable for under the $200 million price tag."

So, empty those pockets and fly away! Just make sure you don't burn, and make it back safe.

Space Adventures, the first company to launch private (and filthy rich!) citizens to space, recently announced their plans to amp their services by buying Fountain Valley, California Space Launch Corp. The spaceflight experience firm, who will send you to the International Space Station (ISS) for a hefty sum of money, said that the planned merger will bring valuable technology and expertise to the table for future missions and projects.

When asked on why they chose to purchase Fountain Valley, Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson's reply was "it certainly has technologies that are very applicable to commercial human spaceflight."

The California-based Technology Firm is not short on experience, in 2003, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency tapped the said California firm to draw up plans for its air-launched Responsive Access, Small Cargo, Affordable Launch (RASCAL) program. Unfortunately, the RASCAL program was cancelled last year.

Space Adventures is currently working with Houston-based firm Prodea to develop and sell a fleet of air-launched explorer suborbital spacecraft, and also works hand-in-hand with UAE's and Singapore's planned spaceports. Also, they have announced around the Moon trips aboard the Russian-made aircraft, Soyuz. Aside from that, they also offer fighter jet rides as well as aircraft flights that simulate weightlessness for thrill-seeking customers.

As for the next launch of their orbit-bound passenger, Japanese businessman Daisuke Enomoto, for now its all systems go for the September 15 launch. He is set to ride a Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS with the ISS Expedition 14 astronaut crew. Rumor has it that the space tourists paid around $20M for their 10-day space flights.