Elon Musk’s SpaceX recently announced its partnership with space tourism company, Space Adventures, to organize a trip into deep orbit for 4 tourists.
SpaceX plans to send the travelers aboard their Crew Dragon spacecraft. The flight path would take them to altitudes 2-3 times higher than the International Space Station.
Space Adventures chairman Eric Anderson says the views will be similar to those of NASA’s Gemini 11 mission in 1966. This would make the distance traveled further than anyone has been in decades.
The @SpaceAdventures on @spacex Dragon free-flyer announced today can provide orbital views not seen by anyone since Gemini 11 – check out the change as the altitude increases: https://t.co/Zj31CGJuiu
— Eric Anderson (@ec_anderson) February 18, 2020
(NASA Sends an Oven to Space So Astronauts Can Finally Bake Cookies)
The tourists will spend around 5 days in the gumdrop-shaped spacecraft measuring about 13-feet across.
No exact date or price has been given for the trip but a press release by Space Adventures estimates that it could take place by 2021. While a spokesperson mentioned the price would be “in the range as other orbital spaceflight opportunities,” which have have been priced in the tens of millions of dollars.
“This historic mission will forge a path to making spaceflight possible for all people who dream of it, and we are pleased to work with the Space Adventures’ team on the mission,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president, and chief operating officer of SpaceX.
Space Adventures has organized eight tourism trips to the International Space Station between 2001 and 2009.
What do you think about this?
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad!
