Faversham’s most famous rock star Sir Bob Geldof will travel into space next year.

The former Boomtown Rat has confirmed he will be one of 100 guest astronauts onboard the Space Expedition Corporation (SXC)’s ship when it blasts off from Curacao in the Southern Caribbean sea in 2014.

Tickets cost £64,000 per person.

"The first rock astronaut – space Rat! Elvis may have left the building but Bob Geldof will have left the planet!" - Bob Geldof

Sir Bob said: “Being the first Irishman in space is not only a fantastic honour but pretty mind-blowing.

"The first rock astronaut – space Rat! Elvis may have left the building but Bob Geldof will have left the planet! Wild! Who would have thought it possible in my lifetime?”

Sir Bob will begin training in a space flight simulator in Holland this weekend.