Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the most famous minds, is known for his work in the mysteries of gravity, and he will soon see the biggest dream of his life become a reality. According to the famous scientist, he is going to travel in space!
In an interview with Piers Morgan at ITV's Good Morning Britain, Hawking said:
"My ultimate ambition is to fly in space. I thought no one would take me, but the Richard Branson offered me a position at Virgin Galactic, and I said yes immediately.”
The event is especially remarkable for everyone and especially for Stephen Hawking, who suffers from ALS, a disease that has kept him immobile for more than 40 years. The scientist as you know is constantly sitting in a specially designed wheelchair and communicates using one system text-to-speech he controls using a sensor activated by a muscle in his cheek.
You can watch the part of the interview in the following video (starts at 9: 05):
Although it will be Hawking's first time traveling in space, it is not the first time he has been in a zero-gravity environment. In 2007 he tested the conditions of zero gravity on a specially modified aircraft Boeing 727-200.
Sir Richard Branson, who founded Virgin Galactic, told 2015 that he hopes to be able to get Stephen Hawking into space, and that he offers him a free ticket he could use if his health permits.
Let's mention that a flight with eight-seat SpaceShipTwo of Virgin Galactic will cost 250.000 dollars and that to date there are 700 stakeholders waiting for a place on a trip. According to Forbes, SpaceShipTwo could start at the end of 2017, but Virgin Galactic says it will not transport space tourists.
