Space balloon for tomorrow’s tourists?

There is a new proposal in the space tourism market. He promises his future clients the ability to observe the curvature of the Earth and the blackness of space, comfortably seated in an armchair, in an ultra-luxurious cabin that will be carried to a very high altitude by a giant airship. The company proposing this display is Space Perspective, which recently showed images of the spacecraft’s cabin interior to the public and hopes to begin launches from the Kennedy Center in Florida by the end of 2024. More than 600 tickets have already been sold at $125,000 each.

All in comfort. The spacecraft has windows one and a half meters high, laminated seats, and a lighting system that produces violet lights. Real bar and Wi-Fi internet connection will be available on board

The “hot air balloon” will carry the spacecraft to an altitude of 30 kilometers above sea level – an altitude much lower than that of its competitors, the approximately 105-kilometre Blue Origin spacecraft, or rocket planes. From Virgin Galactic that touches 85 kilometers – but in any case exceeds the flight height of intercontinental aircraft (about 11 kilometers).

bending; Jayne Poynter, co-founder of Space Perspective, explains: “When the tourists reach an altitude of 30 kilometers, they will be above 99 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere, which will allow them to see space in its true color, that is, black. Like ink, like as well as observe the curvature of the Earth ».

The Space Perspective offer includes a “space tourism” experience on board a capsule equipped with every comfort, transported at high altitudes by a large balloon.
© Space Perspective

No special training will be required to obtain the spacecraft. The balloon will rise at a maximum speed of about 19 kilometers per hour, so the flight will be long enough to allow tourists to enjoy every moment of their adventure: it will take about two hours to reach the maximum height and the same amount to do descending, hanging from an umbrella that ends up plummeting into the ocean. During this experience, it will not be possible to experience the absence of gravity, as happens – even if for a few minutes – for tourists who use Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic during their trip.