By far the most compelling part, according to those who have experienced it, is the phenomenon known as the “overview effect”, the surreal and awe-inspiring feeling of looking down on the curvature of the Earth from above.

“I don’t think it’s something you can fully prepare for,” says Kellie Gerardi, a bioastronautics researcher from Florida who flew on a Virgin Galactic flight last year. “I’ve spent years studying space and envisioning my own journey, but to see it with my own eyes… It’s incredible.”

“I think the most surreal thing was suddenly realising I wasn’t on the same planet as my daughter,” she adds.

How much does it cost to go to space?

Unsurprisingly, going beyond the stratosphere isn’t exactly cheap – hence the reputation of it being a billionaire’s club.

Virgin Galactic is currently charging $600,000 (£466,000) for a seat on its next series of space flights, due to take place in 2026 on its new Delta-class spaceship. The company says it will look to conduct eight flights per month, with the aim of getting some 750 private astronauts into orbit within a year.

Even if you can stump up the cash, you may have to wait. Virgin Galactic says it has 700 “future astronauts” on its waiting list, spread across 60 countries.