Near Space and it's possibilities

Hobby Space at http://hobbyspace.com/NearSpace/index.html#Balloons
defines the posiblities.

Personally, I think this can be the cheaper version of space tourism. Instead of paying $200,000 for a ride on Spaceship Twon with Virgin Galactic we can go to near space in a balloon and coast back down. If there is a period of free fall then we could experience zero gravity too. IHigh altitude sky diving could be done as well as high altitude research. I think we can come up with more reasons to utilize near space as time goes on.

John F. Kennedy in his famous Rice University speech referred to space as our New Ocean. And just as an ocean possesses a shore, so do we find a shore above us at the transition from earth to space.

This space shore is often referred to as Near Space.

The realm of Near Space officially lies between 75,000 feet (~23km) and and 62.5 miles (100km) according to the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI). Here we consider a wider range that extends up to 200km or so where it becomes safe for satellites to remain in orbit without immediately becoming dragged down by friction with the residual atmosphere.

The vehicles that traverse this high altitude domain are called nearcraft. These include sub-orbital rockets, which make quick jumps into and out of near space, and high-altitude balloons that can loiter there for extended periods.

Weather balloons routinely go to 27km (~90k ft). Scientific balloons go to 42 km (137k ft or 26mi) and remain at high altitudes for several days. The world record altitude reached by an unmanned balloon is 51.82km (170k ft or 32.2mi).

The record for altitude reached by a crewed balloon was set by Malcom D. Ross and Victor A. Prather who flew to 34.668km (113,740ft or 21.54mi) on April 5, 1961.

Compared to orbital flights and journey's to the Moon and Mars, Near Space may seem of little interest, only an interlude on the way to more exciting places. In fact, Near Space offers numerous exciting benefits and applications.

Here is a list of some possible benefits of utilizing Near Space:

Cheaper and quicker access to space-like conditions are offered by nearcraft as compared to getting a launch to orbit.

Amateur groups participation: Ham radio enthusiasts, students, and amateur scientists carry out high altitude experiments in astronomy and atmospheric studies, taking high altitude pictures, and testing equipment that will be used on satellites.

High altitude cameras can see for several hundred miles farther than with aerial photography and access to a given area is more flexible than with the infrequent fly-overs by remote sensing satellite.

Development of sub-orbital RLVs will be much quicker and cheaper than orbital vehicles. The technology, operations techniques, etc. learned from sub-orbital systems will then be applicable to second generation vehicles intended for orbit.

Sub-orbital space tourism packages will offer trips that may last in total only half an hour or so. Yet, at the top of 100km trajectory one will see the curvature of the earth below and a dark starry sky above and one will experience the accelerating thrill of riding a rocket and then feel a few minutes of microgravity. Many people may actually prefer this kind of brief initial space experience over a full blown stay in orbit for several days.

Cameras can see the horizon out to several hundred miles from Near Space.

So just as there are those who prefer the sea shore for such activities as swimming and fishing rather than sailing out into the open sea, so there will be many people who prefer the Near Space shore over voyages into open space.