Well, not really. It’s a cleverly advertised nautical romp for would-be astronauts.

“A Florida company is bringing several U S Hall of Fame Astronauts on the luxury yacht Sea Dream to select future sub-orbital space participants during their ‘Space Cruise’ week event in April 2009. According to Mitchell J Schultz, it’s Director, “ninety-six possible participants from around the globe are expected to register and become a part of space history.”

For a minimum of $35,000 you get a luxury cruise with established astronauts, and a 1 in 16 chance of being picked for a suborbital flight on an undisclosed carrier. Nice if you’ve got the money.

You have to marvel at the way they’re billing this as the world’s first ‘sub-orbital space cruise’, as the boat will sprout rocket engines and head for the ionosphere.