Martian Matt rejects Virgin Galactic flight

HAS the bubble burst for sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic following last year’s fatal crash?

Not only has Princess Beatrice’s boyfriend Dave Clark left the company, but even Hollywood A-listers who feature in space films aren’t interested in going to infinity and beyond. Matt Damon, star of the Martian, about an astronaut stranded on the red planet, expresses reservations about joining the inaugural trip.

‘ I haven’t booked my ticket,’ says Damon (right, with co-star Jessica Chastain). ‘I’m gonna let the professional astronauts do the first few shifts and then maybe I’ll join them on the next generation.’