World View Will Have Balloon Trips To The Edge Of Space Available By 2016


In the opening sequence for the original Star Trek, starring William Shatner, George Takei, and the late, great Leonard Nimoy, viewers are given words on how space is the final frontier, where no man has gone before. Though the original series, and future series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, are set years ahead from our present time, we are currently striving to reach the final frontier where no man has gone before.

Technically, people are exploring space mostly to find a second planet that humans can inhabit. The Inquisitr reported numerous times on such a progression that Stephen Hawking has said is necessary if humanity wants to continue to exist. Right now, the plan is to figure out how to colonize Mars. One hundred people have already been selected to take the one-way trip to live the rest of their lives on the Red Planet.

With exploration just in its initial stages, it is safe to say almost all of us will never get to explore the final frontier. However, one company is at least providing away for vacationers to take a vacation at the edge of space, the part of the atmosphere where Earth ends and space truly begins.

Air Balloon Trip
This is the air balloon that will be used for vacationers to take a trip to the edge of space.

According to an article by RYOT, the means of taking such a vacation was created by World View. The method of travel is within a tiny capsule connected to a helium balloon. Vacationers will get inside of the capsule, and will be provided with oxygen masks and suits to protect them from the elemental hazards at a height of 100,000 feet above the surface of the Earth. That is the equivalent of 20 miles, or leaving behind 99 percent of the atmosphere.

The trip on its own sounds epic, and with it comes an epic price tag of $76,000. Also, the getaway trip only lasts about six hours, two hours to get up 100,000 miles above the surface of the Earth, two hours to view the world, and two more hours to descend back down. Summarized, vacationers better make the trip worth it!

Now that you know World View is designing a means for vacationers to at least reach the edge of space, what are your views? Income aside, if given the chance, would you take the trip?

[Featured Image via World View, Post Image via J. Martin Harris]

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