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Five space giants prepare their ships to start the era of space tourism

2020-08-09T21:10:45.282Z


Virgin Galactic and Space Perspective presented their projects. SpaceX partnered with a space agent. The other two will be the first hotels outside of Earth.


Marcelo Bellucci

08/09/2020 - 18:00

  • Clarín.com
  • Society

Designed for a well-to-do public - at least during the first stage - that is used to the most extravagant destinations, space tourism became the extreme experience to enjoy a unique view of our planet from an altitude of 300 kilometers. So far in 2020, five aeronautical firms have presented their ambitious projects to be crowned the first consortium to move civilians out of Earth orbit.

For years, the space journey was reserved only for professionals with years of preparation and rigorous training. However, the incursion of several private companies and the cheaper travel, opens up new possibilities for the curious, researchers or productions.

Last week Virgin Galactic made a presentation on YouTube! Of what the interior of the SpaceShipTwo looks like. With a total of 12 openings distributed on each seat and on the ceiling of the ship. The seats can be reclined to enjoy the emptiness and float without restriction when zero gravity is reached.

Last week, Virgin Galactic unveiled its ship (Virgin Galactic via AP)

To reinforce the cosmic immersion there is a large circular mirror at the rear of the cockpit. "Navigators are going to have the analog reflection of themselves floating freely in space, an experience that will be very difficult to forget," said designer Jeremy Brown.

This rocket plane docks under a special jet plane and launches high. After a moment of free fall, the two pilots ignite the rocket and the spacecraft rises and accelerates vertically to supersonic speed. The trip will cost $ 250,000 per person. The price of the reservation is $ 1,000.

It will have twelve windows and will be one of the few to adjust to the G-forces. (Virgin Galactic via AP)

The new competitor in this area, which made its plans official at the beginning of August, is Space Perspective. Its goal is to send tourists and research payloads into the stratosphere, aboard the Spaceship Neptune , a pressurized capsule carried by a balloon that is scheduled to conduct its first trials in early 2021.

"We are committed to changing the way people have access to space, both to conduct research to benefit life on Earth and to affect the way we see and connect with our planet," said Jane in a statement. Poynter, founder and CEO of Space Perspective.

The Neptune spacecraft will rise using a hydrogen balloon.

The Neptune is a conical ship with a 360-degree view. It will take about two hours to reach the maximum altitude of 30,000 meters, towed by a 200-meter-high balloon filled with floating hydrogen. The maximum capacity is 8 passengers and the cost of the ticket is 125,000 dollars.

Following the glorious return of astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX was granted permission to dispatch civilians into space. The first move was to partner with Space Adventures, a private space tourism reservation company that operated with the Roscosmos agency.

The Dragon Crew are due to depart for the ISS on May 30. EFE / SpaceX

The first trips will be carried out with the Dragon Crew , the same capsule that successfully launched last Saturday, May 30. And while the cost has yet to be reported - launching the Falcon 9 without a human-rated capsule costs about $ 60 million - it is anticipated to be exclusive only.

"This will provide up to four people the opportunity to break the world altitude record for private space flights and see planet Earth as no one has done since the Gemini program," Space Adventures representatives said in a statement.

Voyager Station is a revolving luxury hotel.

As NASA seeks to make long-term space travel cheaper, Voyager is a revolving space station that plans to make space exploration more comfortable. It is the first space hotel, with artificial gravity and all the terrestrial luxuries.

To provide maximum comfort, it will have 24 individual capsules and will accommodate 400 guests. Voyager Station expects to attract 100 guests each week. The simulated gravity will offer amenities like toilets, showers, and beds that function similar to what you're used to on Earth.

Axiom Space will have an observation deck on the ISS.

“The station has been designed from the ground up to accommodate businesses, film and art directors, national space agencies conducting low-gravity research, and tourists who want to experience life in a large station with the comfort of low-gravity and the feeling of a luxury hotel ”, they indicated.

Aerospace manufacturer Axiom Space set out to create a private habitat in space, building on previous module connections to the ISS .

The European satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space will be in charge of the design, development, integration and testing of the primary structure and the protection system against micro-meteorites and space debris for Node 1 and the Housing Module, the first two elements.

"A commercial platform in Earth's orbit is an opportunity to mark a change in our society similar to what astronauts experience when they view the planet from above," said Ghaffarian, Axiom's chief executive officer in a statement.

GS

Source: clarin

All life articles on 2020-08-09

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