Would you visit space? Yes, a lot of people would agree, but since you need a lot of cash to make it happen, the faraway idea becomes implausible. Things could change in the future since an Indian company wants to transport passengers close to space by 2025 in a spaceship connected to an innovative high-altitude balloon technology.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the source of inspiration for the Mumbai-based startup Space Aura Aerospace Technology Pvt Ltd. The business has started construction on a spacecraft that will have a 10 feet by 8 feet footprint and hold six tourists in addition to the pilot. The spacecraft will, however, stay within a 35 kilometre radius above the earth.
Space capsule called SKAP 1
The company displayed a prototype of the space capsule called SKAP 1 at the ‘Akash Tatva’ science exhibition here, which received a positive response from both scientists and the general public. Space Aura founder and CEO Akash Porwal stated that the company has set a target date of 2025 for its first space flight.
Two locations in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have been identified from which the space flight can be launched, and a decision will be made soon, he said. According to Porwal, the company is working hard to meet its goal with the assistance of scientists from ISRO and TIFR.
Space balloon
The space capsule will be propelled by a balloon filled with helium or hydrogen gas up to 30 to 35 kilometres above sea level, where space tourists will be able to witness the earth’s curvature and the blackness of space for approximately one hour, he said.
The space balloon will gradually deflate, and a parachute will be deployed to bring the spaceship down. The space balloon will be separated from the space capsule at a predetermined point, and the tourists will be safely brought down.
“Our objective is to attract space tourists to India by presenting to them a mix of space tourism and Indian culture,” Porwal said.
“In comparison to Space X and Blue Origin, our company will help space tourists go to space at a much lower cost,” he said.
Though the fare for a flight in the spaceship has not been decided, it is likely to be nearly Rs 50 lakh.
