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Richard
Branson may have plans to launch the first privately manned space flight
this year, but at $250,000 (£148,400) a ticket, Virgin space travel
won’t come cheap.
For
those desperate to get a taste of the experience, Swiss Space Systems
(S3) has just launched what it claims will be the world's cheapest ZeroG
flights.
With
prices starting at €2,000 (£1,600; $2,700), the flight will see
passengers experience 20 to 25 seconds of weightlessness each time the
plane transitions from climbing to descending.
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Swiss Space Systems (S3) has just launched what
it claims will be the world's cheapest ZeroG flights. S3's flights, like
existing ZeroG services, will involve putting passengers aboard a
modified aircraft that performs a series of mid-air parabolas - or
u-shaped manoeuvres
S3's
flights, like existing ZeroG services, will involve putting passengers
aboard a modified aircraft that performs a series of mid-air parabolas –
or u-shaped manoeuvres.
This
gives passengers a feeling of weightlessness for just over six minutes
in total, allowing them to feel similar sensations to that of an
astronaut floating on the International Space Station.
Nasa
puts its astronauts through a much tougher version of the same flights
as part of their training, pushing trainees to the brink of sickness in
what is described as the 'vomit comet.'
Each
aircraft will perform 15 parabolas per 90-minute. For a price of under
€2,000 (£1,600 or $2,700), passengers will get put into something known
as the ‘Party Room’ with 39 other people.
Nasa and ESA put their astronauts through much
tougher versions of the same flights as part of their training, pushing
trainees to the brink of nausea in what is described as the 'vomit
comet'
WHAT ARE ZERO GRAVITY FLIGHTS?
Zero gravity results in a sense of weightlessness, allowing bodies and materials to move completely freely.
It can be achieved by going into deep space, far from any gravitational body such as planets and stars.
A
cheaper option is to take a parabolic flight.This involves putting
passengers aboard a modified aircraft that performs a series of mid-air
parabolas – or u-shaped manoeuvres.
Combined,
these maneouvres give passengers a feeling of weightlessness for just
over six minutes, allowing them to feel similar sensations to that of an
astronaut floating on the International Space Station.
Nasa
puts its astronauts through a much tougher version of the same flights
as part of their training, pushing trainees to the brink of nausea in
what is described as the ‘vomit comet.’
For
those willing to pay €5,000 (£4,050 or $6,800), passengers join 27
other people in the ‘Premium Zone’ which includes items to play with
like balloons and liquid.
A
dozen passengers can have a ‘tailor-made experience’ in the VIP Room,
which will cost an €50,000 (£40,500 or $68,000) and comes with a watch
and a flight suit.
S3
plans on starting the flights in Japan next January for anyone above
the age of eight, with 14 other locations opening throughout the year.
Earlier
this year, the Swiss group unveiled radical plans to launch a space
shuttle from the top of an Airbus passenger jet as part of a separate
project.
Swiss
Space Systems said the system will be a far cheaper way to launch
satellites - and claims it can sell launches for £7 million ($12
million) or around a quarter of the price currently charged.
The firm claims its system, which could launch satellites weighing up to 550lbs (250kg), could take to the air in 2017.
The
Swiss Space Systems launch model uses an Airbus A300, an aircraft
already certified for zero gravity flights, to take the shuttle up to
10,000m on its back.
Once
it reaches this height, the shuttle will be launched to take it to an
altitude of 49.7 miles (80km), when the spaceplane doors open and put
the satellites into orbit.
When
this operation has been completed, the shuttle will return to earth by
gliding towards its launch airport - and can be reused.
Richard Branson may be moving ahead with plans
to launch the first privately manned space flight, but at $250,000
(£148,400) a ticket, space travel won¿t come cheap. Pictured is the
SpaceShipTwo space shuttle
Earlier this year, the Swiss group unveiled
radical plans to launch a space shuttle from the top of an Airbus
passenger jet. Swiss Space Systems said the system will be a far cheaper
way to launch satellites - and says it can sell launches for £7 million
($12 million), around a quarter of the price currently charged
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