Several space companies are developing rockets to be the first to send tourists into orbit, but the newest comer is planning to race with a giant balloon.
Spanish startup Zero 2 Infinity plans to launch civilians about 130,000 feet above the surface using a helium balloon measuring 420 feet in diameter.
The entire journey lasted for six hours – three hours for a good time, one hour in space and one return to Earth.
Zero 2 Infinity has been working on the idea since its inception in 2009, but is getting closer to opening ticket sales to the public for $ 132,483 – other companies are charging no less than $ 250,000.
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Several space companies are developing rockets to be the first to send tourists into orbit, but the latest comer to make race plans with a giant balloon
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos ’Blue Origin both have a vision for space tourism and have made great strides in the market.
However, none of them succeeded, leaving room for other companies to enter the race.
Zero 2 Infinity made its first test in 2012 by placing a humanoid inside the capsule attached to the balloon and allowing it to move into orbit, Business Insider reports.
Then five years later, the company used their first prototype called ‘Bloostar,’ which was a two-tier balloon and rocket craft.
Spanish startup Zero 2 Infinity plans to launch civilians about 130,000 feet above the surface using a helium balloon measuring 420 feet in diameter
The balloon propelled the rocket up to the altitude mark, where it was able to launch its engines that would allow it to fly into space.
CEO Jose Mariano Lopez-Urdiales told El Economista: ‘We have the capsule, the licenses, the insurance, the stratoport. What is needed is a question of funding. ‘
‘Spain has everything it wants to be a leader in space tourism: it has its companies and its technology.’
Passengers receive two days of safety training and receive their favorite food while on board.
Zero 2 Infinity has been working on the idea since its inception in 2009, but is getting closer to opening ticket sales to the public for $ 132,483 – other companies are charging no less than $ 250,000
Passengers receive two days of safety training and receive their favorite food while on board
Scientific experiments will also be conducted, including airborne measurements and pollution levels prior to each launch.
Zero 2 Infinity isn’t the only company looking to use balloons as the spaceship to space.
Space Perspective announced in June that it is developing its ‘Spaceship Neptune’ which will hold nine and a small bar, all enclosed in large windows.
The startup plans to launch 10,000-foot tourists into the stratosphere inside a weighted capsule attached to a giant balloon.
Musk’s SpaceX has already signed three civilians for a trip to the International Space Station willing to pay $ 55 million each
Blue Origin also plans to bring tours to the final destination, but these tours only last a few hours and would cost around $ 200,000
Unmanned flights are expected to begin in early 2021 and the company hopes to sell tickets starting in 2024 for $ 125,000, which is more than $ 10,000 cheaper than Zero 2 Infinity.
However, it may be interesting to see how the cheaper alternatives stand up to the local power stations.
Musk’s SpaceX has already signed three civilians for a trip to the International Space Station willing to pay $ 55 million each.
Blue Origin also plans to bring tours to the final destination, but these tours would only last a few hours and would cost around $ 200,000.