Canadian Space Agency is planning to build two bases for launching rockets carrying space tourists, the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos said citing the information agency Canadian Press.

Cape Breton on Nova Scotia Island may become a Canadian version of the historic Cape Canaveral in Florida and Fort Churchill in Manitoba, near Hudson Bay in the United States, which have launched astronauts and rockets space for many years. Manitoba's government welcomed the idea with enthusiasm.

British billionaire and founder of Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson is actively backing the project of Canadian Space Agency.

In 2009, Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's tourism company, unveiled SpaceShipTwo, a commercial six-passenger space vehicle which will take the passengers to an altitude of 110 km (68.3 miles) during a 2.5-hour flight with a five-minute period of weightlessness.

Following up to 100 test flights, the first customers are expected to board the craft in 2011, each paying $200,000 for a seat.

A total of 300 people across the world, including at least 11 Russians, have booked tickets for suborbital flights with Virgin Galactic. Another 85,000 people have filed flight applications on the agency's website.

MOSCOW, March 30 (RIA Novosti)