Saturday, June 23, 2007

Feeling lucky, space tourist?

Spotted in the local news:
Travel agency JTB Corp will launch Japan's first space travel insurance next April. A joint venture between JTB and American International Group Inc has cooperated with Lloyds Japan Co to develop the insurance, the premium for which could be around 7% of an insured amount against 0.03% for conventional overseas travel insurance products, JTB said.
A premium of 7% of the insured amount suggests they think there is a similar chance of not coming back in one piece (maybe 1 in 20, allowing for a fat profit for the agency). I can see the sales pitch:
I know what you're thinking. "Have they flown 18 missions or 19?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a spaceship, the most powerful and unreliable vehicle in the world, and would blow your head clean off (not to mention the rest of you), you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, tourist?
Maybe not.

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