Forget missiles. This Spanish company is working on a much more gentle ride to the limits of our planet’s atmosphere. Just imagine as you rise into space, completely without straining, at a helium balloon like a child’s birthday party. It is the dream of Jose-Mariano Lopez-Urdiales, which is engaged in space tourism is a new type together with his company zero2infinity and transport, which it calls its “bloon” — something between a baloon (balloon) and bloom (flower).
According to his idea, first you get to the platform on the giant dome-shaped launch pad. A balloon with a height of 96 meters will carry you upwards and rises to a height of 36 kilometres per hour. There is this “blur” will drift for a few hours until you will enjoy views of Earth through the four giant panoramic window, perhaps sipping a Martini or enjoying a conversation with a former astronaut.
When the time of descent, “blur” will release some gas, and then completely discard the balloon. Then opened the parachute will allow the platform to carry out a soft landing, and when you reach Land, eight airbags will cushion the impact. Using meteorological data and atmospheric modeling for planning its path, the pilots “bluna” will always be sure that you land in a safe place.
At least that’s the plan. Obviously, the balloon will not be able to reach such heights, which offers Virgin Galactic, plans to send tourists to a height of 110 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. But Lopez-Urdiales says that the height will be enough to see the curve of the blue planet, framing the darkness of space. Astronauts say that this type is “the effect of the survey, and lópez-Urdiales believes that the “change perspective” will mean that passengers will be more concerned with the Ground after a journey.
“Blur” can boast other advantages. On it you will spend much more time than the rocket, which sometimes provides just a few moments in admiration of the cosmos. “What is it like to watch the trailer for the film instead of the film as a whole,” says López-Urdiales. “That’s the difference between a spaceplane and a balloon”. Moreover, Blon” will save so much fossil fuel that it can be called almost clean. And since it does not carry explosives, it will also be much safer missiles.
Monica hardy, a planetary scientist from the Open University, said that the General idea “sounds fine”, but the scheme requires further research. “Not just because helium is a rare gas, and is not a renewable resource,” she said. Anyway, Lopez-Urdiales does not see “blune” a direct competitor to other forms of space tourism, but rather alternative experience.
Wife of Frederick of the University of Texas in valley Rio Grande, Director, partner SpaceX Stargate, agrees: “the Project zero2infinity provides another way for people to realize the dream of space exploration,” he says. Perhaps she will not suit people who dream about space travel in the style of J. J. Abrams. But the balloon is more appropriate for people who shy away from bumps, shocks, free fall and are looking for a more meditative ways to relax.
Now Lopez-Urdiales is trying to get approval from the European aviation safety Agency and the Federal Association of civil aviation to begin flying in 2018. “I have made especially for my suit, and I want to use it sooner rather than later,” he says.
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