Japanese Startup Offers Memorable Space Tourism Experience in a Helium Balloon
Japan-based aerospace company Iwaya Giken has announced a space tourism project that will take passengers to the stratosphere in a helium balloon.
The two-seater cabin will take off from a balloon port in Hokkaido and ascend to a height of 25 kilometers, which is part of the stratosphere and considered the gateway to space.
Applications for the space tourism project opened in August, and the first five passengers will be announced in October.
The company plans to launch its first trip in late 2023, but the initial cost of the flight is approximately 24 million yen or INR 1.5 crore.
The company hopes to bring the cost down to several million yen in the future.
The Iwaya Giken vessel differs from traditional rockets and hot air balloons as it uses helium to lift off.
The balloon can be largely reused, and the flights will remain above Japanese territory or airspace.
The passengers will have an unobstructed view of space above and the Earth below, experiencing a sense of weightlessness and a unique view of the planet.
Iwaya Giken has collaborated with the major Japanese travel agency JTB Corporation, with the aim of providing accessible and affordable space tourism experiences to the public.
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