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.
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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.
I must unfortunately ask you for your financial support because I do not depend on ads and rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal or $3 to $50 through Patreon.
Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Your support is even more essential to me because I not only keep this site free from advertisements, I do not use the corrupt social media companies like Google, Twitter, and Facebook to promote my work. I depend wholly on the direct support of my readers.
You can provide that support to Behind The Black with a contribution via Patreon or PayPal. To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation. For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If Patreon or Paypal don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
Or you can donate by using Zelle through your bank. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). The best part of this electronic option is that no fees will be deducted! What you donate will be what I receive.
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.