Space Tourism: World View Balloon Trips To The ‘Edge Of Space’ For $75,000 [VIDEO]

World View Enterprises wants to launch space tourists 30 kilometers, just under 100,000 feet, above the Earth’s surface inside a capsule. The ride would cost $75,000 but the company believes the view is worth the price.

The space tourism industry is booming and while Virgin Galactic and the $250,000 ticket for a seat aboard the SpaceShipTwo is getting plenty of attention from celebrities, World View is offering “majestic views of our planet” aboard a space capsule. According to the company, “The World View spaceflight experience will begin with a gentle ride in the comfort of a luxuriously appointed space-qualified capsule, lifted by a high altitude balloon to 30 km. There, passengers will remain aloft for approximately two hours before gliding back to Earth.”

The trip will let passengers view space and the atmosphere of Earth for $75,000. On Oct. 22, the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, determined World View’s spacecraft to fall under “Commercial Space Flight,” paving the way for new tests to ensure the safety and feasibility of the spaceflight. As part of their statement released in response to the FAA’s announcement, World View will begin subsonic testing of the spacecraft in the near future.

Jane Poynter, World View CEO, said in a statement, “Seeing the Earth hanging in the ink-black void of space will help people realize our connection to our home planet and to the universe around us, and will surely offer a transformative experience to our customers.” Poynter hopes World View’s spaceflight will not be limited to tourism and used for educational and research purposes. As reported by the Verge, the World View capsule can hold eight passengers and the company is projecting a 2016 start date for trips. The capsule will be lifted by a high altitude balloon and the descent will be controlled via a remote. The video of World View's spaceflight can be viewed below.