Space is out of the question, but a balloon trip to the stratosphere might be possible ($50,000).
Going to “almost space”.
Flights into space are out of reach for the vast majority of humanity, but World View Enterprises' balloon journey into the stratosphere is SpaceX. At a fraction of the cost of , and Blue Origin, it seems that you can have an experience that is not exactly a space trip, but is very close to it.
It's been a long time since I heard about World View's plans to bring humanity into the stratosphere. The Arizona-based company made a small course correction and turned its attention to an unmanned balloon called Stratollite that will levitate imaging and communications equipment at high altitudes for weeks. But the other day, the company announced in a press release that it would be returning to the space tourism business.
Of course, balloons can't actually go into space, but they can rise high enough to see the roundness of the Earth and the darkness of space. The idea is that this stratospheric flight will lift the passenger capsule to about 30 kilometers above the ground in a giant balloon, offering a tremendous space-like experience.
According to World View's FAQ, "From 100,000 feet you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the earth. You can clearly see a "faint blue line" in the atmosphere." "Additionally, it rises above the thickness of the atmosphere, so it is enveloped in the darkness of space. You can see more than 1,000 miles in all directions."
It is said to be ``cheaper than any other private space tourism flight''
There is a commonly defined boundary in outer space, the Karman Line (Kalman Line), 100 kilometers above sea level. . World View's balloons are no match for space, but that doesn't stop the company from integrating stratospheric flights into the space tourism sector. That said, it's not trying to compete with bona fide space tourism ventures like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin or SpaceX. Would it be more accurate to say that they are trying to intrude on their territory?
As an example, World View plans a cost per person of $50,000, which the company says is "significantly lower than any other commercial space tourism flight out there." Again, it's not space, but that's okay. Even that amount is high, but it pales in comparison to the expected $25 million ticket price to ride SpaceX's CrewDragon. Blue Origin will sell one seat for $28 million at auction, and Virgin Galactic will set the price at $450,000. In a press release, World View said it will offer customers flexible financing options, and is currently accepting deposits of $500. $50,000 is close to buying a luxury car, and some may feel the experience is worth it.
Flight time is also one of its strengths, with flights into the stratosphere ranging from 6 to 12 hours. With eight passengers and two crew on board, you won't get the thrill of zero gravity, but you'll enjoy the scenery and drink. The capsule also has a toilet.
World View plans to start at the Grand Canyon first. They also hope to be able to depart from great locations such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Serengeti in Kenya, the Amazon in Brazil, the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and the Great Wall of China in Mongolia. Among the planned destinations, I thought it would be the best view to take off while watching the aurora in Norway...!
There are also strengths such as physical accessibility. A violent high-acceleration rocket launch is replaced by a gentle ascent into the stratosphere and a soft landing on the ground. Service animals are also allowed on flights.
The company says it has many safety measures in place.
From designing spaceflight capsules, helium-filled zero-pressure balloon flight systems, to patented parafoil landing systems, safety is our number one objective at every step. We have also designed multiple safety measures in case one of the main safety measures fails during the flight. There is also a backup parachute system that can be deployed to gently land the capsule if, for example, the parafoil system stops during landing.
World View flights have long used high-altitude zero-pressure balloons, where the pressure inside the balloon equals the pressure outside. The balloon will not explode and plunge into a sudden plunge in the event of a puncture, leak or puncture. On the contrary, it will have a peaceful ending. Helium gradually leaks out of the balloon, and the balloon and capsule eventually begin to slowly descend. Even with a large hole, it takes several hours for the balloon to slowly drift to the ground. Moreover, World View balloons are filled with helium, a safe, non-flammable gas, eliminating the risk of explosion.
The company is still finalizing the design and needs to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company's CEO, Ryan Hartman, told SpaceNews that he would ideally like to launch 100 times a year, but that would depend on the launch site and local weather conditions. The first flight is likely in 2024 and has already been chartered by the nonprofit Space For Humanity.
World View is not the only company that offers flights to the stratosphere. Space Perspective, which is owned by World View co-founders Jane Poynter and her Taber MacCallum, is currently working on a similar service, but it costs nearly $125,000 per passenger. .
Source: Aerospace America, Space.com(1, 2), Business Wire, YouTube, World View, Forbes, BBC, SpaceNews,