The Irish space race heats up as Bill Cullen looks to leave orbit ahead of Geldof

Earlier in the week we learned that Bob Geldof is hoping to be the first Irishman in space, but it looks like The Apprentice’s Bill Cullen could now be the first to blast off.

The former Boomtown Rats front man Bob Geldof announced during the week that he’s going to be one of the first ever Space XC astronauts as the company plans to blast off late next year. This would make Bob the first Irishman and “the first rock astronaut space rat” - his words not ours - to leave earth’s orbit. However, it now appears like Bob has some stiff competition to be the ‘first Irishman in space’ as The Apprentice’s Bill Cullen hopes to board Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic (and not Bill's personal Renault Espace) when it takes flight in May 2014. Bill and Bob also have Tom Higgins to contend with. Higgins, the owner of Irish Psychics Live, has previously said that he wants to be the first man in space and he’s also reported to be on the passenger list for a Virgin Galactic flight - not to mention the fact that Tom already has his space suit sorted, if his old Irish Psychics Live TV advert is to be believed... So for now, it looks like Bill (or Tom Higgins) will be coming back to earth with the honour of being the first Irishman to go where no Irishman has gone before.