A hot topic is the "almost space trip" that you can take by hot air balloon. No training required, no dress code, and its ease of use are also attracting attention. Let's take a closer look at this dream travel plan. ■How about a live broadcast in "almost space" where the weather is guaranteed to be sunny? Reservations for next year are already sold out! Caster Masatoshi Nanba: In the "almost space trip," you will board a spaceship called "Neptune," an American spaceship that can carry up to eight passengers. It is not a rocket, but a hot air balloon. It is powered by hydrogen and does not emit carbon dioxide. The cost is about 16 million yen (125,000 US dollars) per person. The flight time is about six hours. It takes two hours to reach an altitude of 30 kilometers, the "stratosphere," which is "almost space." You will stay there for two hours and then spend two hours descending. More than 1,000 people from around the world have already applied, and tours for 2024 are sold out. Sales began on January 18th for flights scheduled for 2025 and after, and the person in charge at HIS, who sold the tickets, commented, "The response has been greater than we expected." Outer space is 100 kilometers above the ground. There is almost no air, and there is no friction with the air, so artificial satellites can fly. This "almost space trip" will take you to about 30 kilometers above the ground, which is said to be the stratosphere, which is 10 to 50 kilometers above the ground. The clouds are in the troposphere below the stratosphere, so the stratosphere is always clear and has very good visibility. Caster Takahiro Inoue: This is the first time I've heard space travel news that makes me think, "I want to go!" "No training"? Caster Minami: You need to participate in a program where you receive an explanation, but no special training is required. At about 30 kilometers above the stratosphere, there is gravity, so your body won't float around, and you can wear whatever you like. The ship is equipped with Wi-Fi that can withstand the live broadcast of this "almost space travel" experience by all eight crew members. You can also eat. There is also a well-stocked bar where you can toast with champagne. However, a HIS representative said, "It is easier to get drunk than on the ground, so be careful not to drink too much. You may return without seeing the blue Earth," so that the 16 million yen will not be wasted. ■ Japanese companies are also taking on the challenge. Aiming for a plan in the 1 million yen range in the end?! Minamiha Caster: Not only overseas companies are taking on this "almost space travel," but also Japanese companies. Keisuke Iwatani, 36, is the president of Hokkaido venture company "Iwatani Giken." He has been fascinated by space since he was a child and majored in space engineering at Hokkaido University. In 2011, he began researching whether it would be possible to go to space by balloon. In 2016, he started this space venture. He has actually conducted tests many times, and in 2021, he successfully launched a one-seater unmanned cabin to an altitude of 28 kilometers. This one-seater unmanned cabin is powered by helium gas and also does not emit carbon dioxide. A two-seater airtight cabin, with one pilot and one passenger, is currently under development and will go on sale as early as fiscal year 2024. The price is about 20 million yen. However, according to the person in charge, "It's a two-seater now, but we want to gradually increase the number of people and make it something that can carry about 20 people. Ultimately, we want to make it possible to go to the entrance of space for around 1 million yen." Rina Akimoto, representative of the online direct sales store "Tabechoku": It's gradually becoming more practical, and it's becoming more realistic. I thought space was something that was still a long way off, but it's already on sale, and there are actually private citizens who are going there, so I feel like it's becoming very close. But I'll have to save up money... Caster Inoue: It's not an astronomical amount, it's 16 million yen. That's a dream. Single 38 years old, let's do our best! ▼TBS NEWS DIG Official Website https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/ ▼Please subscribe to our channel! / @tbsnewsdig ▼Information provided by "TBS Insiders" https://www.tbs.co.jp/news_sp/tbs-ins... ▼Video provided by "TBS Scoop Post" https://www.tbs.co.jp/news_sp/toukou...