Do you know how much it costs to travel to the Moon ? It may be a totally surreal question, but the truth is that it is not at all. In fact, we have an answer: 110 million euros.
How do we know this figure? Well, very simple! The space tourism company Space Adventures offers this possibility, which consists of traveling around the satellite aboard Soyuz, a Russian spacecraft. Of course, the two clients they have for the moment will have to wait until 2017 to be able to enjoy their trip. Do you want more information about this and other special trips? Well, very attentive!
The trip to the moon
As we just told you, Space Adventures trips to the Moon will not be possible until at least 2017. This is because the Soyuz crew capsule has not changed much in recent decades and needs some structural variations: a change in the navigation of the ship, a modification of the communication systems, the replacement of the heat shield … Of course, the company has no doubt that the Russian engineers are prepared for this task.
Apparently, the journey from Earth to the Moon and back to our planet will last a week . Therefore, the company also intends to design a new housing module for passengers. However, we have to warn you that it is a project that many do not see clearly, not even the Russians themselves.
Other offers from Space Adventures
In addition to trips around the Moon, the company, which is made up of a team of experts in adventure travel and aerospace experiences, offers trips to the International Station at a price of 38 million euros. In fact, it is a pioneer company in space tourism, since there are 7 tourists who have been able to experience this trip. Very soon the singer Sarah Birghtman will become the eighth tourist to travel to space.
Virgin Galactic goes ahead despite accident
Space Adventure is not the only company that offers space travel for tourists. The Virgin Galactic company, for example, plans to start its flights from next year. Yes, the company is going ahead with its project, which consists of offering commercial space flights. And that a few days ago the SpaceShipTwo aircraft, with which the company intended to carry out its space travel, exploded during a test flight carried out over the Mojave desert (California). In it the co-pilot of the ship lost his life.
After this accident, some people have canceled their tickets to travel to space. However, as they have stated from the company, the majority have encouraged the company to move forward. And it is what they will do, since Virgin already has the SpaceShipTwo ship 65% manufactured and it seems that it will continue with its tests in six months.
Virgin Galactic’s Suborbital Travels
What they offer from the company founded by Richard Branson are suborbital trips, that is, to more than 100 kilometers of altitude. Of course, from this height the passengers will be able to contemplate the Earth , in addition to experiencing the sensation of weightlessness for a few minutes. Although most of those who have booked their tickets for these trips are anonymous, some well-known names have been leaked, such as Ashton Kutcher, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks or Stephen Hawking. All of them have had to pay $ 200,000.
Would you dare to travel to space if you could afford what it costs to do so?