European aerospace company EADS unveiled a model of a jet designed to take tourists into space on Wednesday, rocketing paying passengers to weightlessness 100km above the earth's surface.

EADS Astrium said it hoped the space jet - which looks much like a conventional aircraft, though it is outfitted with rocket engines - will be operational by next year, with the first flight scheduled for 2012.

Tickets are expected to sell for 150,000 to 200,000 euro ($317,000 to $240,00), said the company, which presented a full-scale model of the craft in Paris.