利用氣球搭載乘客的太空艙

Space tourism has arrived！ A Japanese startup plans on opening space up to ordinary people.

The company， Iwaya Giken， based in Sapporo in Northern Japan， is planning on launching space-viewing balloons that will make space tourism available to people who are not wealthy or have the skills needed to fly a rocket， reported AP News.

“It’s safe， economical， and gentle for people，” Keisuke Iwaya， the CEO of the company， told reporters at a press conference in Tokyo on February 21， 2023. “The idea is to make space tourism for everyone.”

The company developed an airtight cabin that can fit two people—a pilot and passenger—and a balloon that is capable of rising to an altitude of 25 kilometers， according to Fast Company. It took 12 years to develop.

Unlike rockets and hot air balloons， the reusable balloons will be lifted by helium （氦氣）. It will take two-hours to rise and will stay there for an hour before beginning its descent. The capsule itself is 1，5 meters in diameter and has several windows that will allow passengers to view the earth below or the cosmos above.

Iwaya Giken teamed up with the Japanese travel agency JTB Corp to support the sales when the space capsule is ready to operate commercially， according to a blog on CN Traveler.

Applications are now being accepted until the end of August， 2023. The first five passengers will be announced in October. At this point， the price is out-of-reach at €167，000， which is still a bargain compared to space rockets， but will be reduced to the tens of thousands of euros， reported AP News.

The first flights will depart a week apart， weather permitting. While most future space travelers may dream about blasting into space in a rocket， floating into the stratosphere in a balloon capsule is a kinder and gentler way to travel.

（材料出自“Goodnet”網站，有刪改）

1. What do we know about Iwaya Giken？

A. It is a company based in Tokyo.

B. It provides international travel services.

C. It plans to produce balloons of different sizes.

D. It is trying to make it possible for ordinary people to travel in space.

2. How long does it take for the balloon to reach an attitude of 25 kilometer？

A. 1.5 hours. B. 2 hours.

C. 12 hours. D. 25 hours.

3. What advantage does the balloon travel have over space rockets？

A. Convenience. B. Higher safety reliability.

C. Higher speed. D. Lower prices.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage？

A. To inform readers of a creative space travel.

B. To call the readers’ attention to space tourism.

C. To discuss the safety of space travel by balloon.

D. To encourage readers to apply for the space travel.

1.D。（剩余496字）