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Blasting off with Richard Branson

This entreprenuer scored one of the first seats on Virgin Galactic's private rocket to sub-orbital space.

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By Malika Zouhali-Worrall

wrocherinsky.03.jpg
Yacov Wrocherinsky goes weightless

(Fortune Small Business) -- When Richard Branson launches his space-tourism business in 2010, Yacov Wrocherinsky will be among the first to soar.

The entrepreneur is one of 250 people who have signed on for a $200,000 seat on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, which will transport passengers into sub-orbital space, roughly 68 miles above earth.

"This is like a dream come true," says Wrocherinsky, founder and CEO of Infinity Info Systems, a CRM technology consultancy based in New York City. "I don't see it as buying a ticket. It's paying to support their entrepreneurship and develop space travel - and I get to go on a flight too."

The 48-year-old has already participated in six zero-gravity flights - where a plane dives steeply to simulate weightlessness - including one with Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, who sparked Wrocherinsky's love of space with his historic 1969 moon walk.

"People choose their own hobbies," Wrocherinsky says. "I love space."  To top of page

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