Imagine the thrill of soaring 100 kilometres above the earth and being one of the first tourists in space.

Space travel has long been the stuff of childhood dreams, except for a privileged few who go on to become highly trained astronauts — until now. Tourist flights into space are just a few years away and you could be lucky enough to win your own space flight.

Russian company Space Adventures is a space tourism company offering the public opportunities to experience space today. From 2008, the very lucky and very wealthy (it costs around $200,000) will be able to experience suborbital space flights, 100 kilometres above the earth.

The suborbital flights will allow passengers to experience weightlessness, and view the curvature of the earth as astronauts do in orbit.

Editor of Cosmos magazine Wilson da Silva is one of the first Australians to book in for a suborbital flight in 2008. He must be good at his job because he is being shouted the trip by his boss and COSMOS magazine founder Dr Alan Finkel.

"It is hard to believe, but it is going to happen apparently. In 2008 I'll be strapped into a rocket and blasted into space," da Silva says.

He admits he is a little nervous, but the excitement far outweighs any fears.

"The whole of humanity, the whole of human history, is going to be down there and I'll be looking down at it saying: 'Wow — I'm one of the few human beings to have done this'," he says.

Self confessed space tragic and writer for Australian Sky and Telescope magazine, Jonathan Nally, says natural curiosity is the driving force behind our desire to head into space. "It is the unknown. We have only just scratched the surface of what there is to know out there," he says.

If you can't wait for the full space experience, just head for Russia where for around $33,000 you can get the next best thing - a ride in a MiG to experience weightlessness.

Five things to know about space tourism

Q. How much does it cost?

A. Of the space tourism outfits offering flights, the average is $200,000. That's return, of course.

Q. Are any discount fares available?

A. No. Experts estimate that by 2014, market forces might reduce the price to about $100,000 but don't expect it to get much lower in the near future.

Q. Can I use my frequent flyer points?

A. Virgin is the only airline offering space miles for frequent flyer points. To earn a Virgin Galactic space flight you'll need to rack up two million miles on earthly flights.

Q. Is there any truth to the rumour that space flight could cause breast implants to explode?

A. The MythBusters program tested the claim and declared it busted, but the only way to know for sure is to give Pamela Anderson a free ticket.

Q. Can I get a drink on board?

A. No, and don't bother complaining. In space, no one can hear you scream.