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Ashton Kutcher Planned to Be on Virgin Galactic Space Flight: Here’s Why He Backed Out

Ashton Kutcher said his one small step for man would have been a big step toward a divorce. Kutcher, a former model, actor, and now tech investor, was supposed to take a flight to space aboard Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic’s space ship. But his wife scuttled that mission.

He had to buy the $200,000 ticket years ago, and since then, things have changed in his life dramatically. He got married to fellow That 70s Show alum Mila Kunis and had two children. And Kunis made it clear that if he went to space, she’d give him plenty of space when he returned.

“When I got married and had kids, my wife basically encouraged (me) that it was not a smart family decision to be heading into space when we have young children. So I ended up selling my ticket back to Virgin Galactic,” Ashton Kutcher, 43, told Cheddar News, Reuters reported.

“I was supposed to be on the next flight, but I will not be on the next flight,” he added. Branson had a successful test flight earlier this week.

Ashton Kutcher was the 500th person to buy tickets aboard the spaceship in 2012. The same year he started dating Kunis.

Just because he won’t get to space this time doesn’t mean he’s giving up on his dream.

“But at some point, I’m going to space,” he told the financial news network.

And according to USA Today, he’s not the only celebrity that hopes to slip the surly bonds of earth. Several other high-profile celebrities are planning to make the trip to the edge of space. Some of those include Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Russell Brand, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber.

The two-and-a-half-hour flight provides passengers six minutes of weightlessness, the newspaper said.

Ashton Kutcher Will Have Options In the Future

Branson isn’t the only game in town when it comes to commercial space flight. Other billionaires are getting in on the space race, as well.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will try to make history on Tuesday, July 20, when he climbs aboard a rocket built by Blue Origin. If successful, his will be the first unpiloted suborbital flight with a civilian crew, NBC News said.

If things go well, Bezos will also begin offering civilians the chance to reach the heavens — for a hefty price, of course.

There’s also a bit of controversy over if Branson should get credit for being the first civilian to reach space. The edge of space is usually defined as the Kármán line, which is about 62 miles up. However, Branson only reached an altitude of 53 miles high, NBC News said. Leaving some scientists to say he didn’t make it to space.

Branson live-streamed his trip and posted the highlights to his Twitter.

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who has his own rocket company, plans to hitch a ride with Branson. Musk has put a deposit down on a flight on Virgin Galactic, according to Space.com.