The age of humanity is poised to normalize an activity once reserved for geniuses and scientists: space travel. More and more companies are getting into space tourism, offering those who wish a unique perspective on our planet. Discover the latest initiatives to live an extraordinary experience.
Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, pioneers of space tourism
Two companies are pioneers in this business: Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. SpaceX, although very active in the space sector, is currently focusing on purely scientific projects in collaboration with NASA.
Obviously, going to space has a cost. If a plane ticket to a faraway destination like Japan, China or Australia is already expensive, it makes sense that a trip beyond the stratosphere requires an even bigger budget. But for some, the experience is worth it!
Zephalto, the French project that aims high
Among the new initiatives, we find the French group Zephalto. In partnership with the National Center for Space Studies (CNES), this company is working on flights at an altitude of 35,000 meters, at the edge of the stratosphere. In the program :
Of course, we are still far from space strictly speaking (which begins at an altitude of 100 km according to space agencies), but the spectacle promises to be grandiose!
[Presse] https://t.co/Xje3BgB5Rn โ#Stratoflight: A balcony at 35,000 m. altitude ยป https://t.co/oGRB90OsDx [โฆ] The first flight is planned for 2025 #SpaceForAll #IAC2022 #IACParis2022 pic.twitter.com/PhhKpup3jl
โ Stratoflight (@Stratoflight_) September 25, 2022
Iwaya Giken, the Japanese challenger
In the same vein, the Japanese start-up Iwaya Giken is developing its own stratospheric balloon, with a slightly lower objective: โonlyโ 25,000 meters of altitude. Enough to admire the curvature of the Earth and, who knows, convert a few followers of the flat Earth?
Their spaceship is intended to be more intimate, with a capacity limited to 2 people (the tourist and the pilot). Still count on $165,000 for a place on board! Flights are expected to begin in December, and reservations have been open since last February.
Du hร nh khรดng gian bแบฑngโฆ khinh khรญ cแบงu ๐ฎSo vแปi SpaceX hay Blue Origin, nhแปฏng chuyแบฟn du lแปch vร o khรดng gian do startup Iwaya Giken cung cแบฅp cรณ chi phรญ rแบป, sแปญ dแปฅng khinh khรญ cแปi nฤng lฦฐแปฃng tรกi sแปญ dแปฅng. pic.twitter.com/O4EKuDvWLf
โ VTV Digital (@vtvdigitalnews) February 27, 2023
A booming market, despite astronomical prices
If the ticket prices are dizzying, this does not prevent this emerging market from arousing keen interest. Many enthusiasts are ready to spend a fortune to make their childhood dream come true. The waiting lists are always full!
It must be said that the experience promises to be unforgettable: feeling weightlessness, admiring the curvature of the Earth, contemplating the immensity of the universe… Enough to put our daily worries into perspective and become aware of the fragility of our blue planet .
A legal framework that is still unclear
The fact remains that this new business raises many questions, particularly in terms of regulations. What about passenger safety? About the environmental impact of these flights? Medical consequences of a prolonged stay in weightlessness?
For the moment, the legal framework surrounding space tourism remains quite vague. Each company has its own specifications, in the absence of clearly established international standards. It's a safe bet that things will change in the years to come, as this market takes off.
Space, the new playground for the ultra-rich?
Another question: doesn't space tourism risk creating a new gap between a handful of privileged people and the rest of the population? With such prohibitive prices, it's hard to imagine Mr. and Mrs. Everyman treating themselves to a trip into the stratosphere…
Some see it as a new form of inequality, a whim of billionaires looking for thrills. Others, on the contrary, welcome this progressive democratization of space and see it as the promise of new opportunities for humanity. The debate is open !
One thing is certain: space tourism makes people dream and fantasize. See the Earth from the sky, float in weightlessness, feel like a real astronaut… A unique experience that is no longer reserved for a select few. So, are you ready to embark on an interstellar adventure? If your bank account allows it, the stars have never been closer!
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