Is Space Tourism Closer Than Ever Before? It Looks That Way

Head to the airport, and you can catch a flight to almost anywhere in the world. What about if where you want to go isn't on Earth, though? Visiting space is something that many people have dreamed of over the years, yet it's something only a tiny percentage have managed so far. Could that all be about to change?

While we're a long way away from hopping in a rocket and going wherever we want, it's possible that space tourism could be here quicker than expected. This is thanks to a luxury balloon tourism startup that's set to offer high-altitude stratospheric flights for those with enough money in the bank.

The hot air balloon will apparently ascend up to 15.5 miles

When we think about traveling to space, we generally imagine doing so in a rocket. After all, that's what we've required in the past to achieve these great feats. However, it seems that the French startup Zephalto is set to change this forever. That's because they've apparently partnered with the National Center for Space Studies to offer space tourism to the masses with an entirely different vehicle - a hot air balloon. Apparently, a hydrogen or helium-filled balloon will lift passengers up to 15.5 miles in the sky so they can enjoy the incredible views below them. All the while, they'll be kept safe in a pressurized capsule that will ensure they have plenty of oxygen and don't have to worry about drifting off into space.

Trips will apparently cost over $130,000 from 2025 onwards

It's still a few years before Zephalto plans to send people into the sky with their hot air balloon. However, 2025 isn't that far away, especially when you consider how long it could have taken for space tourism to become a thing. Of course, not everyone will be able to hop into the capsule and ride the balloon into the sky. According to Bloomberg, it will cost interested passengers over $130,000 if they want to see the Earth from a distance. Luckily for anyone who happens to have that money lying around, Zephalto is already taking reservations on their site. Apparently, each trip will accommodate six passengers and leave from France's spaceport, meaning an extra flight over the Atlantic will be necessary. For anyone that can afford this hot air balloon ride, though, that's probably not a big deal.

Customers will reportedly receive luxury French cuisine and Wi-Fi access

Exceptional views aren't the only thing you'll get if you book to travel on Zephalto's hot air balloon. You'll apparently also be treated to luxury French cuisine and even have Wi-Fi access, so you can share what you're looking at in real-time online. The company reportedly believes that this will set them apart from their competitors and help them to broaden their horizons before long. They've already got their sights set on offering flights from other spaceports; they just need this first venture to be a success. Initial test flights of the hot air balloon have certainly gone to plan so far, although Zephalto hasn't yet tested it at their desired altitude. That's because they need a European Aviation Safety Agency certification first.

There's hope this experience will shape how people see the world

If all goes to plan, Zephalto will reportedly be looking to conduct 60 flights a year into space for those who can afford it. The trip will apparently last a maximum of six hours, half of which will be spent traveling up and down from the spaceport. There's hope that this incredible experience could teach people to have a new perspective on the planet and endeavor to do more to protect it. Of course, with the journey limited to those who can afford to pay $130,000 on a six-hour flight, it's unclear how big of an impact it will have. Still, it will undoubtedly leave quite an impression on those who do go up there, especially given what they'll be able to see from so far away.

Technically, this hot air balloon doesn't actually go into space, as the official border is around 62 miles away from the planet's surface. Nevertheless, if people who travel with Zephalto will be able to see the Earth from a distance, we'd still count this as space tourism. What else would you call it?