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.

FMI: www.spaceaccess.com