The bloon, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/24/bloon-space-balloon-pictures-video_n_935415.html" target="_hplink">a helium-filled balloon</a>, will take a capsule with as many as six people to 118,000 feet -- not quite outer space, but near space. The company expects to make its first commercial flight in 2013.
The cost? €110,000, or about $147,000.
NASA
NASA announced in September that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/14/nasa-space-launch-system-sls_n_962051.html" target="_hplink">it's developing the Space Launch System (SLS)</a>, a heavy-lift rocket that will one day take humans farther than ever before.
The 34-story rocket will carry six astronauts aboard the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/" target="_hplink">Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle</a>.
<a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2392960,00.asp" target="_hplink">According to PC Mag</a>, NASA will spend $18 billion over the next five years developing the SLS.
With <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/14/space-shuttle-program-qa-_n_861994.html" target="_hplink">the retirement of the space shuttle program</a>, NASA currently pays Russia around $60 million per person to get American astronauts into space.
Remember, there's still time <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/15/nasa-to-hire-new-astronauts_n_1095686.html" target="_hplink">to apply to be an astronaut</a>.
Virgin Galactic
Over 450 "astronauts" have already booked a $200,000 spot on Sir Richard Branson's SpaceShipTwo, a craft that will take passengers to an altitude of 110 km (68.3 miles).
Branson hopes to begin commercial flights in 2013, but that date could get pushed back.
"We want to be sure we've really tested the craft through and through before turning it over to the astronauts who bought tickets to go up," he said in October, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/18/richard-branson-dedicates_n_1017226.html" target="_hplink">according to the Associated Press</a>. "If it takes a bit longer, we'll take a little bit longer."
Passengers will experience about five minutes of weighlessness during the 2 1/2 hour sub-orbital spaceflight.
SpaceX
In December 2010, SpaceX <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/16/spacex-international-space-station_n_927916.html" target="_hplink">became the first private company</a> to have a spacecraft re-enter orbit, <a href="http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20101208" target="_hplink">when its Dragon spacecraft</a> orbited earth twice and then landed in the Pacific Ocean.
Next stop? The International Space Station. A representative from SpaceX told HuffPost that a Dragon capsule carrying supplies to the ISS will launch in early 2012. It will be the first commercial company to berth a spacecraft with the space station.
But you're going to have to be a NASA astronaut to hitch a ride to space with SpaceX, as the company doesn't have any plans in the near future for space tourism.
Blue Origin
Blue Origin, the notoriously-secretive company underwritten by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, is developing both orbital and sub-orbital launch vehicles to take people into space.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/03/blue-origin-spaceship-fai_n_947731.html" target="_hplink">The company recently released video</a> of a test of its New Shepard rocket, a three-person capsule and launch vehicle that the company is planning to use to take space tourists "to the edge of space."
The cost and timeline of the completion of the New Shepard is unclear.
<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-awards-next-set-of-commercial-crew-development-agreements-120113774.html" target="_hplink">In April, Blue Origin was awarded</a> $22 million from NASA "to advance commercial crew space transportation system concepts and mature the design and development of elements of their systems, such as launch vehicles and spacecraft."
Space Adventures/Armadillo Aerospace
Space Adventures, a company that has sent seven private citizens to the International Space Station, <a href="http://www.spaceadventures.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.viewnews&newsid=791" target="_hplink">announced in 2010</a> that it would partner with Armadillo Aerospace to provide suborbital spaceflights.
The <a href="http://www.spaceadventures.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=suborbital.Vehicle_Design" target="_hplink">two-passenger rocket</a> will land and take-off vertically and allow for a 360-degree view of the earth below.
According to Jaunted, the rocket will travel 62 miles above the earth.
<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/space-adventures-undercuts-virgin-galactic-announces-100-000/" target="_hplink">Engadget reports</a> that a flight to space will set you back $102,000.
Orbital Technologies' Space Hotel
Of course, you'll need somewhere to put your bags once you're in space.
Orbital Technologies, a Russian company, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/space-hotel-pictures-video_n_931951.html" target="_hplink">is building a space hotel</a> where 7 guests will be able to dine on veal cheeks and wild mushrooms at 217 miles above the earth.
The company is planning to open the hotel in 2016.
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/19/russia-space-tourism-idUSLDE77F0PF20110819" target="_hplink">According to Reuters</a>, a five-day stay will set you back a cool $1 million.
Video: "Nasa Searches For Life Clues on Mars" info
Saturday's launch of the Mars Rover Curiosity got us thinking -- why do robots get to have all the fun in space?
So we decided to bring you seven different vehicles that may one day take you to the...
Saturday's launch of the Mars Rover Curiosity got us thinking -- why do robots get to have all the fun in space?
So we decided to bring you seven different vehicles that may one day take you to the...
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory announced on Wednesday the discovery of Kepler-21b, a new planet that's close to the size of earth and is only...
If you're a fan of this subject, there's a documentary coming out in January about private space travel that highlights the training involved to go to orbit and includes some cool new HD "home movies" from the ISS. It's called MAN ON A MISSION: Richard Garriott's Road to the Stars. www.manonamissionmovie.com
AfterSomeThought: If you're a fan of this subject, there's a documentary
I am seriously thinking just the other side of tongue in cheek, about starting chapter of OWS called Occupy the Universe. I think to move forward without it (the universe) being taken into consideration would be an error.
To that end I would say that we challenge ourselves, extend our reach, and move this: http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/ to the planet Mars. Make magnetohydrodynamics or similar technology, a prerequisite; we would end this with a pretty fast way around the solar system, at but days to Mars velocity.
I think America would give the team that pulled it off one billion tax free.
Would probably think that giving five billion to our schools, elementary to graduate, for them to develop the requisite (where applicable green), technology, a good investment. Couldn't be worse than when and where we have invested it lately, in any case. The more so if we then made the technology available to the teams and green-tech start ups.
Something of this nature, if not this, is going to have to come from us... me thinks.
Occupy the Universe.
Daemon_Process: I am seriously thinking just the other side of tongue
I have to explain to you... I really have to explain to you, I seriously, have to explain to you...: of course not? You're not being intellectually honest, and I think the critical part is you don't, or might not know it.
You don't see how one could get elementary school students involved and interested in a project like this? What... it wouldn't be worth it? The "can't do" lack is really, where?
You see, something that god awful simple made sense to you, then you mix belligerent with your ignorance, and expect someone to what?
I don't know what, but part of it is to at least try. And I do know the better part is to do more, than just try. Most people would I think see open ended potential.
What can't or couldn't be done, wouldn't be fun, pay for itself and why...? Are easy. Plus I probably got the engineers already.
The system (the thing taken as a whole) described might be too complex for some people, I can understand that, but such unthinking "where's the glass(?), less than half empty..." sentiments as expressed, might be Jerry Springers fault.
Daemon_Process: I have to explain to you... I really have to
The economic future of America depends on top earners spending more of their income on domestic product instead of investing it in foreign equities and financial derivatives. Raising marginal tax rates on high income levels is one solution, but developing labor-intensive goods and services that appeal to the aspirations of the wealthy is another solution with arguably better multiplier effects.
If we can get the hedge fund set to spend big bucks on commercial spaceflight, that's a net transfer of wealth from the economic elite to the almost exclusively middle-class workforce of the aerospace industry.
I don't really care if its space tourism or miniature yachts for their pet dogs or "life coaches" to tell them how awesome they are, we need to be exploring any way possible to separate rich people from their money. That's how the middle class fights back in a banana republic.
jsarets: The economic future of America depends on top earners spending
Wow. You'd rather people pay more in taxes than go to space? In all of humanity, probably fewer than 100 have been to space. I can't believe that is your argument. This is about human evolution and exploration. It is about having more and more people making it to space
cb3cb3: Wow. You'd rather people pay more in taxes than go
This is the most epic launch vehicle concept video I've ever seen: http://www.spacex.com/assets/video/spacex-rtls-green.mp4 The SpaceX "Grasshopper" reusable launch system is now an official project under active development at SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas. They've got FAA approval for the test series and everything. SpaceX is pursuing a "boost-back" two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) flight profile with vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL). The two stages of the launch vehicle, as well as the Dragon transport spacecraft, each land softly under rocket power on a designated helipad-type surface. Then they can be reused for multiple missions (targeting 10 or more flights per vehicle). By the end of 2013, SpaceX plans to conduct the maiden flight of the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle, which uses three Falcon 9 booster stages in parallel and a revolutionary propellant cross-feed system to feed the center stage engines from the outer stage propellant tanks until the outer stages are depleted and jettisoned. Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful launch vehicle in the world, delivering up to 53 tons of payload to low earth orbit, which is well over twice the payload capacity of the Space Shuttle.
jsarets: This is the most epic launch vehicle concept video I've
That's all super exciting. Unfortunately, the Obama administration wants to cancel any payloads that would require anywhere near 53 tons of capacity
(read www.tinyurl.com/66ffn5p).
Dana_Tufts: That's all super exciting. Unfortunately, the Obama administration wants to
We don't have any, and are unlikely to have any, payloads that require anywhere near 53 tonnes. No payloads are under development that need that big a rocket.
SLS is a waste of money
FerrisValyn: We don't have any, and are unlikely to have any,
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The Huffington Post Timothy Stenovec First Posted: 11/29/11 11:47 PM ET Updated: 11/30/11 12:19 PM ET