Sydney to London in just two hours: the costly and risky reality of the next decade's suborbital flights

Fresh research indicates that two-hour flights from Sydney to London could become a reality in the upcoming decade. This would be made possible through suborbital space flights, which involve briefly launching passengers into space before landing them at their destination.

However, tickets for such flights could prove to be expensive. Virgin Galactic, the company currently planning these journeys, estimates that a 2.5-hour trip will cost over $200,000 per person.

Suborbital flights could also significantly affect the human body. Gravitational forces might create a heavy feeling in the chest, disrupt breathing, interfere with heartbeat, and in severe cases, might drain blood from the brain.

The research was undertaken by the British Civil Aviation Authority in Cranwell, Lincolnshire, England. The study utilized an RAF centrifuge to simulate conditions during suborbital flight. It was found that the majority of the 24 participants managed to withstand the strain on the body without major health impacts.

The experiment resulted in temporary vision loss in 88% of the participants, however, there were no lasting health effects. Scientists also discovered that those who are obese or have heart or lung diseases might be at a greater risk during suborbital flights.

Elderly people could potentially handle the strain of suborbital flights better than younger individuals. The reason being that older people usually have "stiffer arteries", which could help counterbalance circulation issues.

At present, there is no direct flight service connecting these cities. Australian airline, Qantas, recently declared the recommencement of direct flights from Sydney to London. This would be the longest flight path in the world, covering approximately10,563 miles. This means passengers would be in for a non-stop, 20-hour flight.