Dream Chaser - The New Suborbital Space Tourism Vehicle

In recent years, space tourism has been a refreshing alternative and even if for the moment the pioneers pay around $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station, future trips will get more affordable, as many companies are trying to get a piece of the space cake.


One of them is Benson Space Company of Poway, California, whose CEO, Jim Benson, announced a new design of the company's first space tourism vehicle, called "Dream Chaser." The spaceship is a combined design of the NASA and Air Force X-2, X-15 and T-38 vehicles, NASA's HL-20 lifting body craft.

Company officials have declared that the new approach will bring "the first, safest and best astronaut-making spaceflights for the emerging space tourism market," as it will be safer and more aerodynamic. The craft will begin commercial activities in 2009.

It will be lighter and sleeker, requiring less propulsion force due to the decreased drag and will be powered by safe, hybrid rocket engines. It will follow the present models as it will launch vertically and will glide to the landing site.

The ride will be more comfortable for future civilian passengers, more than what today's astronauts are used to, as they will not be subjected to high g-forces, during the re-entry stage. An ingredient to the pleasure of the ride will be the numerous large, well-placed windows for ideal passenger views of Earth and space during the suborbital trek.

"During the past two months a small, highly experienced team has taken a fresh look and concluded that we can do better," Benson noted in a press statement.

"To that end, the new spaceship will incorporate the best elements selected from other successful vehicles. This will result in a spaceship that provides a better ride and even more spectacular views, and at this early stage we will lose little time in bringing it to the commercial market," Benson explained.