Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Space Planes to Meet 'Big Demand' For Tourism

Posted by Zonk on from the infinity-and-beyond dept.

Mab_Mass writes "Widespread space tourism is getting closer to reality, reports the BBC. In fact, Aerospace company EADS sees that sector of the tourism market being so lucrative that it will need a 'production line' of rockets to satisfy the needs of rich travelers. '[EAD's] market assessment suggests there would be 15,000 people a year prepared to part with some 200,000 euros (£160,000) for the ride of a lifetime. [EADS subsidiary] Astrium anticipates it be will be producing about 10 planes a year.'"

2 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Don't go on a roller coaster then... by afc_wimbledon · · Score: 3, Informative

    Some of them pull up to 6 gees, and all they have is a height restriction and warning notice! Yes, it's for a shorter time, but 4.5 gees seems high - ISTR the STS only gets up to 3.5 gees.

  2. Re:Numbers? by KokorHekkus · · Score: 2, Informative

    No magic. They estimate that the market size is 15000 people per year. They never said they would fly 15000 people per year. Most likely the 10 planes/year is a constraint imposed either by manufacturing or available money.