Watch out, Virgin Galactic. There's a new space tourism company in town.
A company called World View is planning to float passengers up to "the edge of space"— about 20 miles into the sky — via balloon by 2017.
While there is no real consensus on where exactly space begins, the International Astronautical Federation thinks it starts at the 100-kilometer mark — about 62 miles up. According to that definition, this 5-hour joy ride get you 1/3 of the way there.
The ride will also include stunning views of the stars, the blackness of space, the curvature of Earth, and cocktails all for the hefty sum of $75,000 — about the price of a new entry-level Tesla.
Here's a peak at what it'll be like to float at an altitude of 100,000 feet, above 99% of Earth's atmosphere.
After arriving at the launch site, six passengers and two crew members would climb aboard the fully-pressurized Winnebago-sized capsule, which contains a bathroom and a refreshment bar.
Source: Popular Science.
The capsule offers 360-degree views and internet access, so you can share photos in real-time.
A giant helium-filled polyethylene balloon will keep the cabin afloat. As the gas expands and decreases in density, the capsule will float into the air until it is fully inflated.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider