Oscar winners get statues and prestige, but losers get an invite to space
The New York Post reported that the consolation gift bags for Academy Award nominees include, among other things, a invitation to ride on a Virgin Galactic flight.
Virgin Galactic, of course, is the sub-orbital spaceflight service dreamed up by billionaire Richard Branson. According to its Web site, tickets cost $200,000, and deposits start from $20,000.
The Hollywood Reporter also reported that the spaceflights were part of the consolation gift basket, though they valued the entire basket at $23,000.
Other items in the gift basket reportedly included a stay at the Huvaafen Fushi resort in Maldives, black caviar eye and neck cream, a fitness and weight-loss retreat, a pack of Swarvoski-adorned electronic cigarettes, shimmer toilet paper, use of a private island and $15 nasal spray.
As one commenter on Gizmodo said, "I didn't win an Oscar.... Do I get a free trip to space, too?"
By
Ariana Eunjung Cha
| February 28, 2011; 5:21 PM ET
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Sorry, but this story simply isn't true: nominees receive a model of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spacecraft, not a free flight. At least one media outlet actually bothered to try and verify the story rather than simply repeat it:
http://www.space.com/10986-oscars-losers-space-tourism-virgin-galactic.html
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true…
Posted by: jfoust | March 1, 2011 5:09 AM | Report abuse
Even if it were true, how's this technology related? Unless they can tweet from space...
Posted by: tundey | March 1, 2011 11:14 AM | Report abuse
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