Another high altitude balloon company enters the space tourism market
Capitalism in space: Another high altitude balloon company, this time from Spain, is now vying for the space tourism market.
EOS-X Space, a Spanish startup, wants to take 10,000 people to the frontier of space within the next 10 years. With EOS-X Space, the journeys won’t be in rockets or ultrasonic planes. They’ll instead take place in a pressurized capsule propelled by a balloon that will rise to an altitude of up to 40 kilometers, or nearly 25 miles.
This means space tourists won’t have to wear a suit for the duration of the trip, nor will they have to do any physical preparation. Depending on the weather, each trip is set to last four or five hours.
They are targeting the same market as the American company Space Perspectives, which hopes to begin flying tourists on its stratospheric balloon, dubbed Neptune, by ’24.
From the press release: From the moment he is handed a possibility of making the first alien contact, Saunders Maxwell decides he will do it, even if doing so takes him through hell and back.
Unfortunately, that is exactly where that journey takes him.
The vision that Zimmerman paints of vibrant human colonies on the Moon, Mars, the asteroids, and beyond, indomitably fighting the harsh lifeless environment of space to build new societies, captures perfectly the emerging space race we see today.
He also captures in Pioneer the heart of the human spirit, willing to push forward no matter the odds, no matter the cost. It is that spirit that will make the exploration of the heavens possible, forever, into the never-ending future.
Available everywhere for $3.99 (before discount) at amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from the ebook publisher, ebookit.
And if you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and I get a bigger cut much sooner.
Capitalism in space: Another high altitude balloon company, this time from Spain, is now vying for the space tourism market.
EOS-X Space, a Spanish startup, wants to take 10,000 people to the frontier of space within the next 10 years. With EOS-X Space, the journeys won’t be in rockets or ultrasonic planes. They’ll instead take place in a pressurized capsule propelled by a balloon that will rise to an altitude of up to 40 kilometers, or nearly 25 miles.
This means space tourists won’t have to wear a suit for the duration of the trip, nor will they have to do any physical preparation. Depending on the weather, each trip is set to last four or five hours.
They are targeting the same market as the American company Space Perspectives, which hopes to begin flying tourists on its stratospheric balloon, dubbed Neptune, by ’24.
From the press release: From the moment he is handed a possibility of making the first alien contact, Saunders Maxwell decides he will do it, even if doing so takes him through hell and back.
Unfortunately, that is exactly where that journey takes him.
The vision that Zimmerman paints of vibrant human colonies on the Moon, Mars, the asteroids, and beyond, indomitably fighting the harsh lifeless environment of space to build new societies, captures perfectly the emerging space race we see today.
He also captures in Pioneer the heart of the human spirit, willing to push forward no matter the odds, no matter the cost. It is that spirit that will make the exploration of the heavens possible, forever, into the never-ending future.
Available everywhere for $3.99 (before discount) at amazon, Barnes & Noble, all ebook vendors, or direct from the ebook publisher, ebookit. And if you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and I get a bigger cut much sooner.
I wonder how much it’ll cost?
I am familiar with the terms supersonic (Mach 1+), and hypersonic (Mach 5+); does anyone know the parameters for ‘ultrasonic’?
Possibly an artifact of the general numbskullery that is normative in journalism these days. It’s also very possible that this is a translation error, given that the source of the article is the Spanish edition of Business Insider.
If you look a bit further into this project I believe it is sponsored by a billionaire nail and beauty solon chain owner who will be providing “Ultrasonic” foot baths and pedicures as you “Sail to the edges of space”, for no extra charge. Its a great promotion tie in. You have not lived until you have had an ultrasonic pedi.
I think the ticket price is around $150 to 200 K. (Not bad, with the free ultrasonic pedicure that is.)
Q: What if the balloon envelope fails? Are there any provisions for such an event?
The first flights I believe are scheduled for April 1, 2024.
Cotour
Q: What if the balloon envelope fails? Are there any provisions for such an event?
I was thinking the same thing.
I am sure they will have parachutes big enough for the craft but the free fall until the chute opens will be like a full minute or even two from max altitude.
Could you imagine Oprah or a Kardashian making that drop? They would fill their pants before the chute opened.
One drop like that and the whole new industry would change. I would offer extreme HAL jumps after that.