For decades, space travel was the exclusive purview of NASA, the Soviet Space Program/Roscosmos, and other national space programs. Cold War competition also spurred rapid technological development and an increased desire to use satellites in national security and telecommunications applications. Private industry, though, was largely locked out of space travel, with space tourism viewed as a distant dream.
The economics of space travel began to change when the Cold War ended. While no companies offered space journeys at the time, some space tourists made it into outer space on government rockets and space stations. In 1996, significant changes began to take shape in the space tourism landscape when the X Prize Foundation announced a competition to incentivize private companies to develop commercial spaceflight capabilities. The challenge was to create a reusable spacecraft that could carry the equivalent weight of three people to an altitude of 100 kilometers, return to Earth, and repeat the mission within two weeks. In 2004, the prize, by then known as the Ansari X Prize, was awarded to SpaceShipOne, marking a pivotal moment in the rise of private space tourism, which has continued to grow ever since.
A handful of space tourists have had the privilege of seeing Earth from above in the last 20 years. However, these journeys have been prohibitively expensive, allowing only ultra-wealthy individuals and celebrities the opportunity to travel into space. Today, HALO Space is working diligently to offer Near Space travel that is more affordable, accessible, and sustainable than its competitors.
Maybe you dreamed of venturing into space as a child. Now, with the political, economic, and technological advancements of the last 30 years, the possibility of experiencing the vastness of space is closer than ever.
You might even have options. Various space tourism journeys, including orbital, suborbital, and near-space travel, are slated to take off within the next five years and give people a journey to remember. Companies competing in this space are working continuously to revolutionize how people think about space travel and what impact space tourism will have on the broader economy.
Space tourism began in 2001 when Dennis Tito became the first "space tourist" to travel to the International Space Station aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. His historic journey marked the inception of commercial space travel and came at a cost of $20 million USD.
Since Tito's pioneering journey as a space tourist, celebrities including Star Trek actor William Shatner and former pro football player Michael Strahan have headed to space. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' private space company, Blue Origin, has completed 25 missions and carried a mix of private crew members and space tourists.
While space tourism is popular among adventure tourists, the industry has also seen a desire for more sustainability. That is why companies competing in the space tourism market increasingly focus on the environment, including how they can make meaningful contributions to the economy and environmental protection efforts. Some private space companies, such as HALO Space, have developed sustainable, reusable technologies that allow scientists to study space without undue harm to Earth.
Space tourism providers also:
Space adventure has traditionally come with a high ticket price, with skyward adventures cost-prohibitive even for wealthy adrenaline enthusiasts. Of course, the basic costs of building safe spacecraft and fuel, among other things, have contributed to high ticket prices.
Orbital space journeys require ultra-fast spacecraft that can fly 200 km (125 miles) above the planet. True to their name, these spacecraft orbit around Earth thanks to their constant, high velocity. However, this velocity comes at a cost. Developing aircraft that can sustain this type of speed requires expensive materials and extensive safety testing. Fuel costs are also prohibitive — the standard orbital spacecraft uses approximately three million times the fuel a family car utilizes.
These high costs make orbital space travel an exclusive endeavor. Elon Musk's SpaceX, one of the few companies currently offering orbital space tourism, reportedly charges $55 million per ticket for certain missions into orbit. In addition to the financial commitment, potential passengers must undergo extensive training and rigorous health checks to ensure they are physically and mentally prepared for the demands of space travel. This preparation includes simulations of spaceflight conditions, physical conditioning, and emergency procedure training. While SpaceX is the leading player in this arena, other organizations have also provided similar services in the past. However, these journeys, which sometimes last for more than a week, remain accessible only to the ultra-wealthy.
Suborbital space travel is currently the most utilized form of space tourism. Companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic offer suborbital journeys with ticket prices ranging from $450,000 to a rumored $28 million. Like orbital space travel, suborbital launches require substantial rocket fuel, which produces environmentally harmful emissions and contributes to the high costs of these journeys.
In suborbital travel, space adventurers are launched up to around 100 km (62 miles) above Earth. Unlike orbital travel, the rockets used for these journeys are not fast enough to achieve orbit. Instead, their engines are shut off after propelling the spacecraft, allowing it to coast to maximum altitude before falling back to Earth. Passengers on these flights enjoy a few minutes of zero gravity and can briefly view the Earth's curvature. The entire experience, from launch to landing, typically lasts around 10 to 15 minutes, with only a few minutes spent in the microgravity environment.
Before embarking on these journeys, participants must undergo a series of training sessions and health checks. Training usually includes familiarization with the spacecraft, simulations of weightlessness, and preparation for the high G-forces experienced during launch and re-entry. Health checks are conducted to ensure that participants can withstand the physical stresses of space travel, making these experiences accessible to a broader range of people compared to orbital flights, but still requiring a certain level of physical fitness.
The next frontier in space tourism is Near Space travel, which utilizes a Stratospheric Balloon filled with helium to offer an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and serene experience at the edge of space. HALO Space is at the forefront of these efforts, developing stratospheric balloon flights designed with inclusivity and sustainability in mind, ensuring that more people can experience the wonders of Near Space.
Stratospheric Balloon Travel offers numerous advantages. Since helium balloons can travel to incredible heights without rocket fuel, HALO Space flights have an environmentally friendly, zero-emissions profile. Balloons can also maintain altitude for longer than suborbital spacecraft, allowing for an incredible viewing experience and serene ascent absent the jarring effects of free fall. Travelers aboard the HALO capsule will spend approximately six hours in Near Space, leaving plenty of time to view Earth from above and catch the sunrise from an incredible vantage point.
Near Space travel also has important implications for human understanding and curiosity. According to Neil deGrasse Tyson, "Ever since there have been people, there have been explorers, looking in places where others hadn't been before. Not everyone does it, but we are part of a species where some members of the species do — to the benefit of us all." HALO Space is dedicated to making near-space experiences accessible to more humans so that this spirit of exploration and discovery thrives in the coming decades.
Thanks to lower development and operational costs, Stratospheric Balloon Travel is poised to cost significantly less than both orbital and suborbital trips. HALO Space currently anticipates offering tickets aboard its eight-person balloon for $165,000 US.
Stratospheric Balloon Travel marks a significant advancement in the space tourism industry. Unlike orbital and suborbital experiences, this mode of travel offers more people the opportunity to see Earth's curvature from the edge of space. HALO Space's approach is designed to be more accessible compared to other options, allowing a broader range of participants to reach the stratosphere without requiring specialized training. Highlighting the importance of making space travel attainable, astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka once said, "Every generation has the obligation to free men's minds for a look at new worlds."
Of course, HALO Space's unique travel experience doesn’t just impress from a consumer and explorer standpoint; it also meets the highest safety standards. Rather than reinventing the wheel, HALO utilizes tested and approved space technologies in its spacecraft. For instance, the seating aboard HALO's spacecraft has undergone rigorous testing and received full approval for space travel.
For the spacecraft interior, HALO turned to Frank Stephenson, who is known worldwide for his luxury car designs. Stephenson has designed cars for makers including McLaren, Ferrari, Maserati, and BMW. His designs focus on comfort and aesthetics to offer the best in luxury travel — key traits Frank continued in his HALO spacecraft design. The pod’s 360-degree viewing space promises an awe-inspiring journey for Near Space travelers who dream of seeing Earth from above.
Helium Balloon technology has a long history, but its use in space tourism is a more recent innovation. HALO Space's Stratospheric Balloon takes eight passengers and one dedicated pilot to heights of up to 40 km (25 miles) above Earth, offering unparalleled 360-degree views. From this altitude, you can witness the curvature of the Earth and experience the transformative Overview Effect. The pilot, who is responsible for navigation and safety, ensures that every aspect of the journey is meticulously managed, providing a secure and breathtaking stratospheric flight.
In 2022, HALO Space successfully completed its first test flight. According to HALO CEO Carlos Mira, "Our goal for this first flight was to test real-size HALO spacecraft flight behavior at launch, ascent, cruise, descent, and landing, as well as safety systems, ground and onboard equipment, which are the most critical parts of HALO’s flight program. Not only did they perform exactly as expected, we also collected important data from the sensors, instruments, computers, and cameras onboard."
