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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
What’s the cheapest way to reach near-space? Ride a balloon
By Maureen O'Hare, CNN
Updated:
5:00 AM EDT, Thu April 18, 2024
Source: CNN
The first human to experience what’s now known as the “overview
effect” was Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin, who became the first
person to view our planet from space a little over 63 years ago.
Seeing that curvature for the first time, he exclaimed, “I see Earth!
It is so beautiful!” He was the first of many astronauts to report
feeling a cognitive shift about one’s place in the universe – a
phenomenal sense of transcendental awe.
There are three types of space tourism companies now vying to open up
this experience to the wealthy, the superwealthy and the
out-of-this-world wealthy.
At the top of the heap, there’s Elon Musk’s . For those with tens
of millions to spare, it promises rocket ship journeys into orbit, into
the weightless wonder more than 300 kilometers (185 miles) above Earth.
Then there’s suborbital experiences, offered by the likes of Jeff
Bezos’ and Richard Branson’s . The for that is up to $450,000 and
takes you up to 80 to 120 kilometers to experience some zero gravity.
The Kármán line, 100 kilometers above sea level, is the altitude
internationally recognized as the boundary between Earth and space.
Finally, there’s near-space adventures, where companies such as , and
now Spanish startup are hoping to bring passengers up on balloon
flights some 25 to 40 kilometers above Earth for the relatively bargain
price range of $50,000 to $200,000.
Commercial flights in 2026
Last week in London, HALO Space CEO Carlos Mira unveiled the interior
design for its Aurora space capsule, which his team hopes will
transport 10,000 passengers to near-space by 2030.
The pressurized capsule – designed by the legendary Frank Stephenson,
the automobile designer for Ferrari, Alpha Romeo and more – measures
5 meters (16.5 feet) wide and 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) tall and will be
suspended from a huge helium balloon. Eight passengers will be seated
inside for journeys lasting up to six hours.
HALO Space declared at the presentation that it’s offering “new,
safe and zero-emissions alternatives to space flights,” and having
already completed five successful test flights, that it’s the most
advanced company in its sector.
Founded in just 2021, it has the ambitious goal of beginning to offer
commercial flights in 2026, starting at $164,000 a pop.
Mira explained that his team was able to hit the ground running by
“using mature technologies” and not trying to reinvent the wheel.
“The operational model we have is not building everything
in-house,” he said. “The approach we have taken is to partner with
the best aerospace players in the different domains,” including CT
Engineering Group, Aciturri, GMV and TIFR.
Introducing the modern, lightweight capsule design, Stephenson said,
“It’s one thing to design a beautiful interior; it’s another
thing to make it work.” There are “weight targets, safety targets,
ergonomic targets” to meet, but his aim was to create “something
that you feel comfortable with right from the beginning.”
A very special sunrise
The end consumers, after all, are well-heeled adventurers who no doubt
fly first-class day-to-day and are used to luxury. Within a very
limited space, comfortable seating, generous viewing windows, storage
areas and, most importantly, a toilet cubicle all had to be integrated.
“You have to make sure the passengers are constantly being informed,
entertained, relaxed,” while the ability to eat, drink and socialize
must be accommodated also. That’s one of the perks of the experience
not being zero-gravity – you can move around as usual and no special
training is required.
The company is testing a real-size capsule prototype, and the next test
flight is confirmed for June. Mira says that HALO Space plans to
operate year-round from four continents, with locations chosen for
their “excellent geographic and weather conditions.”
The drier and less windy the better, as strong winds and cloudy skies
are a big no-no when it comes to offering passengers their
once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Flights will launch pre-dawn, so that guests can experience a
“white” sunrise at the edge of the stratosphere with the deep black
of space beyond.
Is it worth the multithousand-dollar price tag? That’s up for debate.
But it’ll definitely be a morning like no other.
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