Space tourism takes a leap with new jet

[Guest Glenn]

Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21 ... 02,00.html

 

EUROPEAN aerospace company EADS has unveiled a model of a space jet to take tourists 100km above Earth.EADS Astrium said it hoped the jet - which looks much like a conventional aircraft but with rocket engines - will be operational by next year, with the first flight scheduled for 2012.

 

Tickets are expected to sell for €150,000 to €200,000 ($317,000 to $240,00), said the company, which unveiled a full-scale model of the craft in Paris today .

 

The space jet would take off from regular airports using conventional jet engines.

 

When the jet reaches an altitude of about 12km, the pilot will ignite the rocket engines, sending the craft shooting to an altitude of 60km in 80 seconds.

 

The engines will then be shut down and inertia would carry the craft to its final altitude.

 

There, passengers will be able to gaze down on Earth and experience weightlessness for three minutes, the Associated Press reported.

 

The craft will be equipped with special balancing seats to reduce the powerful effect of take-off and landing.

 

Astrium head Francois Auque said the company expected to secure several hundred million dollars in funding from private investors and governments for the project by the end of the year.

 

"We are counting on some 20,000 space tourists by the year 2020," said Mr Auque. "We want to serve a third of them. We have faith in this market."

 

Space tourism is expanding exponentially, with several entrepreneurs, including British billionaire Richard Branson, announcing plans to launch space tourism companies.