With spacecraft that can carry tourists into orbit and connect Paris to New York in less than two hours, the new heroes of space travel are not astronauts but daring captains of industry. This new breed of space pioneers are all using private money to push the final frontier as government space programs fall away. Times have changed. Once the space race was led by the likes of the U.S. space agency NASA that put the first man on the moon in 1969. 

    Today it is entrepreneur Elon Musk — the founder of Tesla electric cars and space exploration company Space—who wants to reach Mars in the 2020s. The furthest advanced — and most highly publicized — private space project is led by Richard Branson, the British founder of the Virgin Group. His shuttle, SpaceShipTwo, will be launched at high altitude from a weird-looking four-engined mother ship — which can carry two pilots and up to six passengers —before embarking on a three-hour suborbital flight. 

    Branson and his sons will be the first passengers aboard the shuttle when it is expected to launch late 2014. His company Virgin Galactic was given the green light in May by the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) to carry passengers from a base in New Mexico, which is named “Spaceport America” — the stuff of science fiction. 

    The US$250,000 price of a ticket has not deterred more than 600 people, including celebrities such as actor Leonardo Di Caprio, from booking their seats.

  When you’re feeling low, it’s easy to convince yourself to stay there. After all, how can you fall when you’re already on the ground? Nevertheless, your heart wants to heal so give it what it wants. Thus, help yourself get back on your feet with these five self-care tips when you’re feeling broken.
First, step outside for some fresh air. Whether you’re still a student in school or constantly working in front of a computer, it’s easy to feel congested by deadlines, projects and never-ending tasks. Make use of your mornings, lunch breaks and evenings when you’re off the clock to step outside for walks, which will help clear your head and improve your mood. Furthermore, spending time outdoors also helps improve our concentration. Even if you can’t step outside right away, just crack open a window when you can and allow nature to heal you.
Second, take a nap. When we don’t get enough sleep, our moods can take a turn for the worse and spiral down into an endless abyss. If you’re feeling cranky from exhaustion, take some time, even if it’s just half an hour to curl up on the couch and close your eyes. Once you wake up, you’ll feel better rested and you’ll make up for lost time by carrying out
your daily tasks with a fresh and sharp mind.
Third, allow yourself to be ordinary. We are all perfectly imperfect. Take a break from using Instagram filters and Facebook posts that show your life only at its best. Social media is a place where we can share our favorite moments
with others but it has also become a platform where people feel pressured to compete with others. Sometimes, it feels more like a beauty pageant instead of a second home. Your sense of self is worth more than a digitalized reputation, embrace your flaws and allow yourself to be average, simple and sincere is always better.
Fourth, clean and give your space a makeover. Cleaning doesn’t have to be overly excessive to make a difference.Whether it means organizing your bookshelf or clipping your favorite photos onto the wall, changes, big or small can enhance the atmosphere. After all, you spend a lot of time in your space. Giving it some love and attention can go a long way.
Fifth, reach out and tell someone about what you’ve been going through. Feeling down often leads to shutting down. We fear burdening others and as this develops into a habit, we suffer silently making it harder to heal. Don’t feel ashamed about your struggles, sometimes you just need someone to hear your story, and you’d be surprised with how much people understand you.