This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers.
Become an Insider
and start reading now.Have an account? .
A company called World View is planning to float passengers to "the edge of space" — about 20 miles into the sky — via balloon by the end of 2016.
Advertisement
And they've just announced that if you want to take a ride, you'll have to get yourself to Tucson.
In a statement, World View announced January 19 that Arizona's Pima County voted to go in on a public-private partnership with the company. Their brand new global headquarters will be based in Tucson, Arizona. All launches will lift off from the Spaceport Tucson launch pad.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers.
Become an Insider
and start reading now.Have an account? .
While there is no real consensus on where exactly space begins, the International Astronautical Federation thinks it starts at the 100-kilometer mark — about 62 miles up. According to that definition, this 5-hour joy ride get you 1/3 of the way there.
It will also include cocktails, stunning views of the stars, the blackness of space, and the curvature of Earth, all for the hefty sum of $75,000 — about the price of a new entry-level Tesla.
Advertisement
Here's a peek at what it'll be like to float at an altitude of 100,000 feet, above 99% of Earth's atmosphere.
Advertisement
The World View campus will sit next to the Spaceport Tucson launch site, which will be Arizona's first space endeavor-devoted launch pad.
After arriving at the launch site, six passengers and two crew members would climb aboard the fully-pressurized Winnebago-sized capsule, which contains a bathroom and a refreshment bar.
The capsule offers 360-degree views and internet access, so you can share photos in real-time.
A giant helium-filled polyethylene balloon will keep the cabin afloat. As the gas expands and decreases in density, the capsule will float into the air until it is fully inflated.
Advertisement
Once the helium completely fills the balloon, the package stops ascending as it reaches its target altitude at about 100,000 feet. To put this into perspective, commercial jets fly at about 45,000 feet, and U2 spy planes speed at around 75,000 feet.
This ascent will take about 90 minutes.
Advertisement
Once at 100,000 feet, passengers will be able to enjoy stunning views of the stars.
And the black vastness of space.
Advertisement
They will also be able to see the curvature of the Earth, which sometimes elicits a cognitive shift in awareness called the "overview effect."
Many astronauts report that seeing our planet from such a high perch makes everything happening on Earth seem tiny and insignificant. Passengers will get to enjoy this view for about 2 hours.
Advertisement
As the capsule starts to descend, the balloon will separate at about 50,000 feet and a ParaWing will glide the capsule down to the landing site.
The balloon will float to the ground, where World View employees will collect and recycle it.
Advertisement
Once the capsule lands, a private jet will return the passengers to the launch site. Depending on the time of year, the distance between the launch and landing site could be anywhere from 0 to 300 miles.
According to World View, the aerospace community considers high-altitude ballooning to be dependable and safe.
And if that's not enough, the team also includes NASA scientists, including astronaut Mark Kelly, serving as director of flight crew operations, and former head of science at NASA and principal investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto, Alan Stern.
The major challenge for the company will be to pass rigorous feasibility and safety testing.
Advertisement
They performed a successful test launch in the summer of 2014, lifting a much smaller, passenger-less version of the prototype to 120,000 feet and back down to 50,000 feet.
And they even broke a world record as the highest parafoil flight ever performed.
Advertisement
World View aims to finish full-scale testing by the end of 2016, at which point they expect to start flying passengers.
The company is still evaluating whether or not children will be able to fly. They are currently accepting reservations for children ages 10 and up, as long as they're accompanied by an adult.
Advertisement
If you have a spare $75,000 to spend on the most out-of-this-world balloon ride of your life, you can reserve a spot at the link below.