Russia plans to introduce spacewalk for tourists by 2019

Friday, February 2, 2018

Russia is planning to offer a unique experience to tourists thanks to the International Space Station that is out on spacewalks for the first time, according to an official from the space industry of the country who mentioned it on Thursday.

Through this technology the country is eager to enable travellers to space, against a payment.

Vladimir Solntsev who is the head of Russian space company Energia told one of the leading Russian tabloids that they have been discussing the possibility of offering tourists an experience of spacewalks.

He went on to add that market analysts have confirmed it that wealthy people are willing to pay more for this special experience.

He said that the cost of such a trip might be around $100 million or 80 million euros.

But he also stated that it might probably be a lesser amount for the first tourist. The tourists, he said would be able to enjoy a spacewalk and also make a video clip of the experience.

Energia was responsible for the launch of the first man in space Yuri Gagarin in the year 1961.

Currently it is building a new module that was dubbed NEM-2 to transport tourists to the International Space Station (ISS). Solntsev said that NEM-2 the name of which is yet to be confirmed will accommodate four to six people and would be fitted with ‘comfortable cabins’, internet access and two toilets.

He said that it would be launched in 2019.

The space official was quoted as saying that it would be truly comfortable. He added that Boeing that is the American aircraft manufacturer was interested in becoming a partner in the project.

Five to six tourists a year would be able to enjoy a space trip that lasts up to 10 days according to Solntsev.

Space tourism is a developing sector that is presently dominated by Western companies including the US-based Virgin Galactic that had unveiled its commercial SpaceShipTwo in 2016.

Russia had sent Canadian founder of the Cirque du Soleil and Guy Laliberte into space in 2009. This billionaire had spent two weeks on the ISS.

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