Space Tourism For The Masses!
Could space tourism be made affordable in the near future?
That's the plan for Miami, FL-based Space Access, which hopes to
revolutionize the tourism industry by introducing affordable space
travel in the coming years... and, a chance for adventurous
individuals to be involved in the process from the start.
As of Thursday, guests can sign up on the company's website on a
first-come, first-serve basis for a limited number of "SpaceGateWay
Experiences" that will take place January 6-11, 2008 at a private
resort in Key Largo, FL.
Through the SpaceGateWay Experience, Space Access plans to offer
hundreds of thousands of people the chance of a lifetime -- to take
part in the development of the world's first commercial hypersonic
vehicles. During the development phase beginning January 6, guests
will interact directly with Space Access personnel, learn about the
enabling technologies, and see how Space Access will change their
view of the world.
The company plans suborbital flights in 2011 to take customers
to the edge of space and Space Access will begin development of an
even more capable vehicle designed to carry passengers all the way
to orbit. By 2014, planned orbital flights will carry passengers to
low earth orbit (LEO), allowing them to circle the earth once every
90 minutes.
"Space tourism is currently available to only a few ultra-high
net worth individuals," said Space Access president Stephen G.
Wurst. "Competitors are advertising suborbital flights for around
$200,000 beginning in 2009 and orbital flights are available on a
limited basis for about $25 million. Space Access, however, will
provide suborbital flights to space for about the cost of an ocean
cruise."
Wurst adds the company expects orbital flights to be available
for roughly the price of chartering a small business jet.
Space Access tells ANN that over the past 13 years, it has
developed the use of hydrogen-fueled ramjet propulsion system,
structural and thermal protection materials, and innovative
aerodynamic design that allow a completely different approach to
space travel. The Space Access reusable launch system will take off
and land horizontally using a conventional runway, consuming just
35,000 pounds of fuel per customer launched into orbit, equivalent
to that of a business jet.
The company says the difference in operating cost, system
reliability and vehicle performance is revolutionary. The
technologies have resulted in the award of 26 patents, with nine
additional patents pending.
Further emphasizing safety, Space Access is developing its space
flight hardware to meet stringent Aerospace Worthiness Standards
generated in collaboration with the FAA and NASA.