Gaby
The Japanese company Iwaya Giken is launching tours for thrill-seekers who want to experience Earth through the eyes of an astronaut. For a few hours in a capsule attached to a balloon with a pilot, adventure-seeking tourists will pay $180,000.
The airtight two-person capsule, measuring 1.5 meters wide and featuring multiple panoramic windows, will ascend to an altitude of 25 kilometers. While this is far from the edge of outer space, it’s still high enough to see the curvature of the Earth against the backdrop of the black sky.
The balloon carrying the capsule with tourists will launch from a port on Hokkaido Island. The ascent will take two hours. Travelers will not exit into open space; instead, they will enjoy the cosmic views for an hour before returning to Earth.
According to the International Astronautical Federation, the boundary of outer space is considered to be 100 kilometers above Earth.
A Trendy Adventure for Thrill-Seekers
The startup Iwaya Giken has been working on a project called “Open Universe” since 2012. During this time, its specialists have tested smaller balloons at lower altitudes, as reported by Science Alert.
Last month, the company began accepting applications from prospective travelers. The first five passengers will be selected in October, with the inaugural stratospheric tour scheduled for December, weather permitting.
CEO Keisuke Iwaya assures that these flights will be safe and accessible to the public. The company plans to significantly reduce ticket prices for stratospheric travel in the future. According to the CEO, “the idea is to make space tourism available to everyone.” Additionally, tourists will not need to undergo special training or learn a foreign language to communicate with fellow astronauts.
Iwaya Giken has also announced its readiness to sell the panoramic capsule for $735,000.
The topic of space tourism, particularly stratospheric tourism, is gaining popularity. For instance, Arizona-based World View Enterprises is currently focused on developing unmanned stratollites. Starting next year, they will transport space passengers for $50,000. Meanwhile, its subsidiary, Space Perspective in Florida, is already selling tickets for stratospheric flights at $125,000, set to begin in 2025.
