Richard Branson thanked Ashton Kutcher on Monday for being the 500th "astronaut customer" on his Virgin Galactic project.
"I gave Ashton a quick call to congratulate and welcome him," said the founder of the airline that aims to become the first offer suborbital spaceflights.
"He is as thrilled as we are at the prospect of being among the first to cross the final frontier (and back!) with us and to experience the magic of space for himself."
"I still sometimes have to pinch myself that it's for real. Ashton is joining a fast expanding group of true pioneers who are on their way to a life changing experience and a place in the history books," Branson gushed of the tech-savvy Two and a Half Men actor. "It's great to have him on board."
Tickets for the trip cost $200,000, including a down payment for reservations of $20,000.
Virgin Galactic has been running test flights of its SpaceShipTwo, which will fly 100 km above the earth's surface, with a total flight time of just over six hours.
"We are guided by safety and so will ensure that everything is just as safe as it can possibly be before we start commercial services," adds Branson. "Particularly as I will be on the first commercial flight with my kids!"
The company plans to begin commercial operations next year.
Watch a beautiful video for the Virgin Galactic program below:
Richard Branson thanked Ashton Kutcher on Monday for being the 500th "astronaut customer" on his Virgin Galactic project.
