Harry to be first Royal to travel into space?

Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Prince Harry plans to travel into space as the first of the Royal family and wants to train with Nasa, The Sun has reported.

Harry, 26, hopes to enter Nasa training when he returns from Afghanistan next year.

He needs a minimum of 1,000 hours of advanced jet engine flight time to be considered by the US space programme. Harry has already scored exceptional grades in his fixed wing and Apache assault helicopter courses with the Army Air Corps.

According to friends, Army pilot Harry is 'obsessed with space' and has already asked Sir Richard Branson's son Sam for a seat on one of the first Virgin Galactic sub-orbital flights.

'It's his dream to be the first Royal in space,' a Royal source revealed to the newspaper.

'Harry has already completed his studies of Land and Sea Surveillance and Oceanology - part of Astro training - and can't wait to get into one of Nasa's T38 training jets.'

Nasa training in Houston, Texas doesn't come easy though. It would include Scuba Microgravity, which involves performing underwater tasks in space suits for up to four hours at a time. He'd also spend hours in a pressurised chamber and simulate space problems like muscle wastage.

'He's been going on about this for months. A lot of people don't know Harry's a Trekkie and has long harboured a desire to get into space,' the source said.

'His service with the Army Air Corps has been exemplary, which puts him in good stead. There's no chance of him walking on the Moon, but he wants to train with Nasa - and is determined to get on a Virgin Galactic flight.'

Clarence House has said it's not officially aware of the intrepid prince's plans.

Harry is currently holidaying with friends in Majorca, while his girlfriend Florence Brudenell-Bruce is in London.

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