A commercial spaceflight venture is offering Israelis a chance to join 121 people from around the world who already have snapped up tickets, at $200,000 each, for the first commercial flight into outer space. A local franchise is selling the tickets for Virgin Galactic, which hopes the spacecraft will take off by early 2010.

Only 500 seats are available for passengers, who will have to undergo three days of training and pass a physical examination before takeoff. The flight will last two hours, and the ticket includes the round trip.