All of us have a travel wish list. But there are only a few who can include ‘space travel’ in this wish list because this wish will cost nearly $75k. For those who are interested in the journey and for those who are interested in the news of this journey, last weekend Tucson, Arizona-based startup ‘World View Enterprises’ launched the first test flight for a scaled-down version of its balloon-based space tourism capsule, sending the prototype some 100,000 feet into Earth’s atmosphere.
For the test flight, World View launched a 1,000-pound replica of the Voyager Capsule (called Vanguard) fitted with all of the working technology and controls built for the final model. After testing wind conditions and running a series of pre-flight tests, the company officially set the Vanguard loose shortly after 7 a.m. Saturday morning. After ascending for roughly two hours, the capsule reached its intended cruising altitude of 100,475 feet, with every primary system working just as World View anticipated. Vanguard then flew at the cruising altitude for one hour before detaching from the balloon and beginning its descent.
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Charged up with the success of this test flight, the company wishes to move on to full-scale testing of the Voyager Capsule (a pressurized cabin which makes use of a helium-filled balloon to travel over 20 miles to the edge of space) aiming for an actual manned mission by 2017.
So what is the difference between travelling in a rocket and travelling in Voyager Capsule? While rockets propel people at blazing speeds into the space, Voyager takes you there in a serene manner. The passengers will enjoy a steady two-hour ascent above the clouds before reaching their destination. For a price of $75k, the passengers apart from getting seats inside the capsule will also Wi-Fi access and a selection of premium cocktails. Despite the insane price, World View announced that spots are already selling quickly. World View’s chief engineer confirmed that the next phase of testing can take place possibly by the end of this year and manned mission by 2017.
Author: Technology Blog
