SPACE tourism has started taking off, and a Japanese startup company has just revealed a new way to get you there.
Iwaya Giken is a company hoping to make space travel accessible to everyone and not just billionaires.
APKeisuke Iwaya, CEO of a Japanese space development company Iwaya Giken, unveiled the balloon today[/caption]
APThe space balloon has two seats and can rise 15 miles above Earth, according to the company’s CEO[/caption]
Its glass space balloon is not for the faint-hearted though.
The circular capsule complete with two seats looks a lot like the slingshot rides you see at amusement parks.
Company CEO Keisuke Iwaya assured a crowd during a news conference in Tokyo that the space balloon was very safe and an affordable space travel option.
He said: “It’s safe, economical, and gentle for people.
“The idea is to make space tourism for everyone.”
The space balloon is currently said to be capable of rising to an altitude of 15 miles above Earth.
That’s roughly the middle of the stratosphere, which is a layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Although this technically isn’t outer space – depending on how you divine the parameters – you’d still get a great view of Earth from this height.
Iwaya thinks this space balloon is a step toward democratizing space travel, which is currently largely reserved for billionaires.
The CEO has been working on the space balloon project since 2012.
Lucky passengers on the balloon would shoot higher than all regular planes to get a nice view of the Earth’s curve.
Flights will start at around $180,000.
However, the company has plans to bring the price down to tens of thousands of US dollars rather than hundreds.
The company is currently accepting applications for a space viewing ride.
Applications close in August and the first five passengers will be announced in October.
Flights should happen a week apart but will be dependent on the weather.
APThe first flights could cost around $180,000[/caption]
APThe space balloon aims to democratize space travel[/caption] Read More