World View Enters The Space Tourism Sector
The stratospheric balloon company World View has entered the space tourism sector with its Rediscover Earth flights. World View's flights will take passengers into space in a zero-pressure stratospheric balloon and pressurized space capsule. The balloon flights will take travelers nearly 23 miles into the stratosphere. Each tour will take eight guests and two World View crew members on a voyage that can last anywhere from six to 12 hours. The flights will start at one of World View's spaceports located around the world. Passengers will participate in a five-day excursion ahead of their flight that will take them to the Grand Canyon in the United States, the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, the Serengeti in Kenya, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, an Aurora Borealis spot in Norway, and the Great Wall of China.
The company is all about inspiring, creating, and exploring new perspectives for an improved future. World View wants to create the opportunity to shift perspective about the earth we live on, said Ryan Hartman, the World View president and CEO. Hartman added that the company wants to connect people to the planet in a way that hasn't been possible before.
The cost of the Rediscover Earth flight is $50,000 per person, which is considerably cheaper than other means of space tourism. Those interested can put down a deposit of $500 today on the company's website.
The balloon ride is designed to create an experience similar to spaceflight, with the capsule designed to give the feel of a spaceship. The capsule will have reclining seats, a bar and galley for refreshments, and Wi-Fi. Passengers will be able to view the curvature of the Earth and witness the blackness of space. They will also be able to see a sunrise or sunset every 90 minutes.
World View is not the first company to offer space tourism experiences. However, the company believes its experience is unique because it is not just about space. The Rediscover Earth flights are designed to give people a new perspective of the planet they call home.
