Published in The Nation on Feb 19th, 2021,
ISLAMABAD-A number of space companies are developing rockets to be the first to send tourists into orbit, but the latest new comer to race plans to do so with a massive balloon.Spanish startup Zero 2 Infinity plans to float civilians some 130,000 feet above the surface using a helium balloon measuring 420 feet in diameter.The entire journey would lasts for six hours –three hours for decent, an hour in space and one to come back to Earth.Zero 2 Infinity has been working on the idea since being founded in 2009, but is getting closer to opening tickets sales to the public for $132,483 – other companies are charging no less than $250,000.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin both have their sights set on space tourism and have made major headway in the market.However, none have actually been successful, which leaves room for other companies to join the race. Zero 2 Infinity conducted its first test in 2012 by sending a humanoid inside the capsule attached to the balloon and let it float up into orbit.