Imagine if you could view the Earth 360 degrees from a fish bowl style suborbital vehicle. What would you pay for such a trip? Will $100,000 do it?
A consortium, Armadillo Aerospace, consisting of the state of New Mexico and two private companies plan to build a prototype model by 2009 and be able launched crewed flights by 2010. The vehicles will be reusable and launched from Spaceport America near Las Cruces, New Mexico. Funding is being provided by Rocket Racing Inc.
The video shows Armadillo Aerospace’s Modular Free Flight at the Oklahoma Spaceport last year.
Other adventurers like Richard Branson with his spacecraft ventures are also setting the trend for space tourism.
Suborbital Space Vehicles
The 'Space Bowl' for Cosmic Tourists
Trend Themes
1. Suborbital Space Tourism - The emerging trend of suborbital space tourism presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the travel and hospitality industry.
2. Reusable Space Vehicles - The development of reusable suborbital space vehicles opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the aerospace engineering and manufacturing industry.
3. Private Space Ventures - The increasing number of private companies entering the space tourism market indicates a potential for disruptive innovation in the space exploration and technology industry.
Industry Implications
1. Travel and Hospitality - The travel and hospitality industry can explore disruptive innovations to cater to the unique needs and demands of suborbital space tourists.
2. Aerospace Engineering and Manufacturing - The aerospace engineering and manufacturing industry can seize opportunities for disruptive innovation in developing and producing efficient and cost-effective reusable space vehicles.
3. Space Exploration and Technology - The space exploration and technology industry can pursue disruptive innovation in areas such as spacecraft design, propulsion systems, and space infrastructure to support the growing demand for private space ventures.