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Space Tourism
Many of us have grown
up
with the dream of travelling into
space, something that has only been possible for a few fit, trained
individuals. Using rockets, astronauts experience strong forces of
acceleration, and the deceleration force on re-entry is even stronger.
The Space Cable can assist high-acceleration launches into space (see Gateway to the Planets and Beyond,) but most
tourists are likely to prefer the space gondola with a speed like that
of a train. Travellers in the gondola will not experience
weightlessness, but they will see breathtaking views of the planets,
stars, galaxies and other bodies, and they can admire the earth from
space.
Those seeking adventure could engage in a new sport by diving from
space and skimming the top of the Earth's atmosphere as they descend.
This experience includes a time of weightlessness. Since the descent is
not from orbit but from a stationary position, burn-up at re-entry is
not a great issue. To slow the descent in the upper atmosphere,
parachutes should be sufficient.
To deal with emergencies, the space gondola should have the capability
to glide back down to Earth. This experience can also be offered as an
option to tourists wanting to experience weightlessness.
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