Gopi Thotakura, an Indian entrepreneur and pilot based in the United States, recently became the first Indian space tourist. He flew aboard a spacecraft from Blue Origin, a leading private space company. This short recreational trip to space took only about ten minutes from takeoff to landing, reaching a maximum altitude of 105 km above Earth. This altitude crosses the Karman line, the recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, classifying the journey as a sub-orbital space flight.
Understanding Space Travel:
Space travel involves journeys above the Earth’s atmosphere. Sub-orbital space flights, like Thotakura’s, reach space briefly without entering orbit around Earth. This allows passengers to experience weightlessness and view Earth from space. Longer space journeys can include orbiting Earth or visiting the International Space Station (ISS), and these require more extensive training and preparation.
Cost of Space Travel:
The cost varies widely based on the type and length of the journey:
• Sub-orbital flights, such as those offered by Virgin Galactic, cost around $450,000 per seat. • Trips to the ISS can cost between $20 to $25 million. • More ambitious journeys, like orbiting the Moon, are projected to cost between $70 to $100 million.
Currently, space tourism is mostly accessible to the ultra-wealthy, but other high-altitude experiences like balloon rides offer a more affordable alternative, providing spectacular views of Earth from high altitudes without entering space.
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