A Japanese company revealed plans on Tuesday for a commercial space viewing balloon.
The balloon, unveiled by company Iwaya Giken, reportedly consists of an airtight spherical cabin that is able to ascend to an altitude of 15 miles, transporting passengers to about the middle of the stratosphere.
Despite not actually taking passengers into space, customers will still have an unrivaled view of it.
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CEO Keisuke Iwaya noted that the experience will be available for as many people as possible, not just billionaires. Customers also will not need to have rigorous training or specific knowledge regarding operating a spacecraft or aircraft. According to Iwaya, he wants to “democratize space.”
“It’s safe, economical, and gentle for people,” he explained.
According to the Associated Press, an initial flight would cost $180,000. However, Iwaya said he wants to bring that price down to roughly several tens of thousands of dollars.
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Iwaya Giken, based in Sapporo in northern Japan, has been developing the project since 2012.
JTB Corp., a major Japanese travel agency, announced plans to collaborate with the company once it is prepared for commercial trips.
