Hot Air Balloon in Space in 2013
Filed Under Space
The race to reach the space for commercial purposes is not only between airline companies. There are private investors keen on pushing something totally unique and they expect that their technology would be available for full commercial use by 2013. Instead of an aircraft that will take tourists to space, a private company based in Spain is developing a hot air balloon powerful enough for space travel.
Meet the “Bloon”
The hot air balloon worthy for space travel is the concept of Jose Lopez-Urdiales, a Spanish entrepreneur. The “Bloon” looks like a small space capsule with four windows which should be enough for four passengers to take a good look at space. Accompanying the four passengers into space are two pilots.
The helium balloon that will take the capsule into space is not something you see in regular balloon flights. The helium balloon measures 129 meters in diameter and it has the capacity to bring up the capsule up to 36 kilometers or 22 miles from the ground. Its maximum altitude is three times better than regular passenger aircraft.
The Bloon’s method of hauling people into space is actually very simple: the helium balloon will take the passengers into space and after two hours, the capsule will descend using a smaller balloon and eventually parachute into the ground.
Cost and Travel Times
The travel time including the trip from the ground and back is three hours (1 hour for travel). The projected cost of the trip will be £90,000 per passenger. It’s an ambitious project and actually more affordable that aircraft powered space travel.
Comments
I heard about companies trying to make it possible to reach space but I did not imagine that it would be possible in 2013. The idea of the balloon is amazing. Sounds very smart and far away from what you imagine when you hear about reaching space. I am very excited to see this thing taking off in the next years.
Should I start saving up already? 90 grand is a lot of money… But come on, if they can realize this… it would be so much worth! Even for just an hour.
There is this story going around, that astronauts get addicted to the space… And I can understand why.
Now I want to experience why!