Space expert raising funds for virtual space trip

U.K.-based group Infinite Void is seeking £5,000 — about US $8,500 — for a virtual ride to outer space.

The idea is to send a weather balloon with 12 GoPro cameras up to the edge of space — 30 kilometers, or nearly 20 miles, straight up. The recorded video would then be turned into a virtual reality experience that can be viewed with the Oculus Rift.

The project leader is Aaron Knoll, who researches plasma propulsion for spacecraft at the Surrey Space Center.

The team did a test of the hardware in May that sent a stuffed toy 28 kilometers up.
The team did a test of the hardware in May that sent a stuffed toy 28 kilometers up.

The project is currently one-fifth of the way to its goal, with 25 days still left in its Kickstarter campaign.

 

Maria Korolov