Space Tourism First Hand

starexplorer writes "You've probably heard that Zero-G Corporation is offering weightless trips to the public. But now, Space.com is reporting an insider's assessment of the experience. Space Tourism seems to be taking off with the public, and with advertisers, as evidenced by Volvo's new 'win a trip to space' contest that kicked off during the Super Bowl."

No, thank you

[Pan T. Hose]

While there is no one in space to hear my scream, I'll just stay with sex tourism, thank you very much.

Only $3750?

[The Datamangler]

After watching the video, I say clip your coupons and sign me up. How many parabolas do you get for $3750? I also want a private chamber- space sex would have to be the biggest seller for future space travel, afterwards, the view out the window is killer!

Uh, SUPERBOWL...?

[MerryGoByeBye]

Gee, if there's anything that would make my ultimate geek-masturbatory fantasy-come-true of going up into space any better, it would definitely be sitting next to a redneck football fan.

That would be just the best.

</sarcasm>

Just one big commercial

[jangobongo]

Well, that video was like a 10 minute commercial for Zero-G, Volvo, and Diet Rite all in one. Very glowing, "Every one should try this" and "Don't worry about space sickness. It's not a big deal!" The only thing they didn't include was the cost [nogravity.com]. So here you are - for the next two available flights:

• Flight ZG-28 from Fort Lauderdale, FL - Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 - $3,750.00 + Tax
• 
  Flight ZG-29 from Fort Lauderdale, FL - Saturday, Apr 09, 2005 - $3,750.00 + Tax

A more realistic (less-paid-endorsement-like) first person account of a ride on the "vomit comet" can be found here [avweb.com]. I think that I'll stick to getting my zero gravity thrills on a roller coaster, thanks!

You nailed it.

[Red Rocket]

I think that I'll stick to getting my zero gravity thrills on a roller coaster, thanks!

This basically amounts to a $3750 roller coaster ride. It's a really nice roller coaster, but how many different ground-anchored roller coaster experiences could you buy for $3750!! It's not even close to worth it.

Re:Just one big commercial

[FirienFirien]

The vomit comet was called such for a reason. I used to be an RAF cadet, so I occasionally got to fly in little two-seater propeller-driven aircraft, and there were usually several people on any day who were nauseated or ill from some aspect of the flight, whether it was a bit of turbulence, flying upside-down, and so on. The body just isn't used to the varying Gs - which is why astronauts have to go through the whole spinning machine thing, being tumbled in all directions - either they can deal with it, th

John Carmack's first-hand account of Zero-G

[FleaPlus]

John Carmack tried this out, and posted an account here [armadilloaerospace.com]. They've also got a video available [armadilloaerospace.com].

Here's a paste:

Since I got involved with the X-Prize, Peter Diamandis has been talking to me about his other project, http://www.nogravity.com/ . Like most people, he was hitting me up to invest in his company, but I said that I would rather be a customer than an investor (where possible, this is a better way to support companies). It took two years for it to go from "We are going to be starting flights in a cou

Re:John Carmack's first-hand account of Zero-G

[meringuoid]

a lot of cabin volume

Hmm... If you stripped down an A380 to the bare essentials, and converted the entire cavernous interior into a monumental bouncy castle... how utterly cool would it be?

Re:John Carmack's first-hand account of Zero-G

[hcdejong]

The A380 has two decks that I'm not sure can be removed. You may want to use the Airbus A300-600ST [airbustransport.com] instead.

Maybe later

[AndreySeven]

Once I'm loaded and can afford paying thousands of dollars for a 25 second roller coaster ride, maybe...

I would like the weightlessness to last more than 25 seconds, and have a private room in which i can entertain a woman... *goes into a long daydream*

My own photographs.

[cogpp]

I got to take part in some parabolic flights last year and have put up the photographs and some videos here [mac.com].

Space ???

[grozzie2]

I'm really curious. How does a ride in a beat up old cargo plane qualify as 'space tourism'?

I've spent many a nite pushing those things thru the sky, does that make me an astronaut ?