The head of an Isle of Man-based space tourism company says it is well on course to offer orbital trips by the year 2013.

Art Dula of Excalibur Almaz has been on the Island giving member of the public a chance to look inside a real space capsule, and see how it can be converted to take paying passengers into space.

It proved a popular draw when it was on display in the King William's College courtyard yesterday, and there will be another opportunty to see it this coming weekend.

Mr Dula says the company will be ready for its first trip, four years from now (play audio file):

Each passenger will pay a fare of $35 million and Excaliber Almaz says it plans to build up the frequency of services it offers, to the point where it generates annual revenues of $1 billion.