Imagine gliding into space in a pressurized capsule via a huge balloon the size of a football stadium. That's how one startup plans to take tourists on suborbital journeys 100,000 feet above Earth.<\/p>\n
Passengers will be able to observe stunning views during a six hour journey. They will also be able to sip on cocktails from a bar aboard the vessel. (Yes, there's a bathroom.)<\/p>\n
The voyage will happen \"very gently and smoothly\" and provide passengers \"the quintessential astronaut experience,\" Jane Poytner, co-founder and co-CEO of Space Perspective, told Yahoo Finance Live.<\/p>\n
\"It's a completely different experience,\" she added, noting the panoramic views from the capsule are life-changing.<\/p>\n
\"You will have that incredibly black sky. When we take you up predawn, you'll get the most outrageous star gaze you've every seen,\" said Poytner. \"It is profoundly moving.\"<\/p>\n
Space Perspective<\/p>\n
\"It really changes the way you see the world forever, and that will actually have a trickle effect across society as an increasing number of people go,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Seats cost $125,000 each, including a $1,000 refundable deposit. The cost is comparatively less expensive than Virgin Galactic's (SPCE) $450,000 voyages 262,000 feet above the earth, which are expected to commercially launch late this year.<\/p>\n
\"Remember we're at the very beginning of the industry. Every industry that has changed the world, like aviation, like computers, when they start out, it was very difficult to imagine a vast number of people using computers or airplanes,\" said Poytner. \"The same is going to be true for space travel. It's just going to take a little bit of time for the price to come down as it scales.\"<\/p>\n
Space Perspective is planning its first piloted test flight in 2023 and initial commercial voyages in 2024.<\/p>\n
Ines is a markets reporter covering stocks from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Follow her on Twitter at @ines_ferre<\/p>\n
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Space tourism: Huge balloon with a bar to take tourists to space for $125,000 a ticket - Yahoo Finance<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Imagine gliding into space in a pressurized capsule via a huge balloon the size of a football stadium. That's how one startup plans to take tourists on suborbital journeys 100,000 feet above Earth. Passengers will be able to observe stunning views during a six hour journey Continue reading