Four-hour trips 19 miles up into the Earth's atmosphere may be possible by balloon according to one company.

World View Enterprises has announced plans to send up to eight people in a capsule lifted via balloon to a point high enough to see the curvature of the earth. It reports tickets will cost $75,000 (46,000).

President of World View Enterprises Jane Poynter said: "From a technical point of view this is incredibly doable, low risk."

The news comes as other companies also push into the emerging space tourism and travel sector. Virgin Galactic has already announced the possibility of using its Spaceship 2 (SS2) craft to travel between London and Sydney in 2.5 hours.

Virgin Galactic is aiming to offer flights into space on SS2 for $250,000 and already has competition from KLM and Force India co-owner Michiel Mol - their  XCOR craft aims to offer similar flights for around £60,000.