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Can we embark on a flight to space since 2019? In any case, this is what the two most advanced private companies in the space tourism market claim. Many times announced in the past, these flights to the stars have never taken off for the time being. But for the specialists, they are now close.
Virgin Galactic, founded by the British billionaire Richard Branson, and Blue Origin, launched by another billionaire, Jeff Bezos, boss of Amazon, race to be the first to finish the tests. If both of them think it is a matter of "months" before the first space vehicles fly away, they are careful not to put forward a specific date.
Travel 100 km above the Earth
For Jean-Luc Wibaux, space agent and ticket seller in France for Virgin until 2014, the 2019 target could be filled by the other rocket, the one developed by Jezz Bezos . "The tests are very conclusive, propulsion is well controlled," he says. Virgin is coming back from quite a distance, the test phase is certainly very advanced but it is not at the level of Blue Origin. "
In 2008, Richard Brandson, at the head of Virgin, announced the first journeys to the world. space, before experiencing a series of disappointments. "They had problems, with more complicated development than expected. The explosion of a tank on the ground, which killed two people, and the accident in flight in 2014 that killed a pilot, slowed them down a lot. But it is certain that he will manage to reach 100 km. Jeff Bezos, he has developed a small suborbital launcher with a super engine, "said Christophe Bonnal, senior expert in the direction of launchers at the National Center for Space Studies (Cnes).
Despite two distinct technologies, the goal of both companies is the same: to bring pbadengers from the stars for a few minutes. "The vehicle will go to the Karman line 100 km above the Earth, which is called the space boundary. It will remain there in weightlessness (note, a situation that provides an "impression" of absence of gravity) for three or four minutes. At this point, we can see the curvature of the Earth, we can see the fragility of the planet, "says Jean-Luc Wibaux. "But it's just a parabolic flight, we go up and down," he continues
250,000 dollars the ticket
To be among those six pbadengers that Richard Branson wants to send into space, no need for a particular medical prescription, but rather a well-stocked bank account: the ticket costs $ 250,000 (213,000 euros) at Virgin The price of Blue Origin is, meanwhile, not known.
Prices likely to decline with the arrival of competitors. "It is expensive but it is comparable to the price of An ultra-luxurious cruise in the Bahamas, for example, is entirely in the realm of credibility, "says Christophe Bonnal, who has already been booked by many celebrities and space enthusiasts. showed that there was a real market. 45,000 pbadengers in 2030, "says the specialist.
But before officially launching the first rockets to the stars, the two companies will have to face the" draconian controls "of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in charge of authorizing the circulation of these flying machines, explains Christophe Bonnal. A final test as a gateway to heaven.
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