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...the Master of Time; Stephen Hawking, who turned 65 today.
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Stephen Hawking plans to see space
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 1:57am GMT 08/01/2007
Prof Stephen Hawking is planning a space flight. The world's best-known scientist, who is 65 today, told The Daily Telegraph: "This year I'm planning a zero-gravity flight and to go into space in 2009."
A zero gravity flight is what astronauts call the "vomit comet", in which an aeroplane flies in such a way that people inside are temporarily weightless.
Prof Hawking's next step towards the cosmos then depends on the Virgin Galactic space tourism plans of Sir Richard Branson, whose SpaceShipTwo will carry six passengers into a low Earth orbit from 2008.
The craft will be launched at 50,000ft from a mothership and soar into space at around 360,000ft, reaching a speed of 2,500mph — more than three times the speed of sound.
At present, a flight costs about £100,000 but Sir Richard will sponsor Prof Hawking's mission.
The scientist plans a quiet celebration of his birthday today with his family and said he had no intention of retiring for the foreseeable future. "The retiring age in Cambridge is 67 but I shall continue working," he said.
He is the author of A Brief History of Time — which has sold 10 million copies — and is now busy writing two books.
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By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 1:57am GMT 08/01/2007
Prof Stephen Hawking is planning a space flight. The world's best-known scientist, who is 65 today, told The Daily Telegraph: "This year I'm planning a zero-gravity flight and to go into space in 2009."
A zero gravity flight is what astronauts call the "vomit comet", in which an aeroplane flies in such a way that people inside are temporarily weightless.
Prof Hawking's next step towards the cosmos then depends on the Virgin Galactic space tourism plans of Sir Richard Branson, whose SpaceShipTwo will carry six passengers into a low Earth orbit from 2008.
The craft will be launched at 50,000ft from a mothership and soar into space at around 360,000ft, reaching a speed of 2,500mph — more than three times the speed of sound.
At present, a flight costs about £100,000 but Sir Richard will sponsor Prof Hawking's mission.
The scientist plans a quiet celebration of his birthday today with his family and said he had no intention of retiring for the foreseeable future. "The retiring age in Cambridge is 67 but I shall continue working," he said.
He is the author of A Brief History of Time — which has sold 10 million copies — and is now busy writing two books.
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