Astrium, a subsidiary of the European
Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) that deals in the space
industry, from launch capabilities to orbital systems, and even to
manned space systems. They have just unveiled a new “space plane”
that will be used for space
tourism in the near future. Shaped and sized like a
business jet, the new vehicle can carry four passengers 100km – the
very definition of outer space – thus yielding over three minutes
of weightless, or “zero G” time. The interior is designed by
renowned industrial designer Marc Newson, and the jet will take off
and land at normal airports. Powered by both jet- and rocket engines,
the Astrium space jet can reach 60km altitude in under a minute and a
half. With development planned for 2008 with a launch goal of 2012,
the new space plane may fly tourists into space sooner than that we
would have imagined. At roughly €150,000 to €200,000 per person
per flight, this possible first step towards mainstream space tourism
may not be cheap, but it is definitely a step towards true
accessibility. 