Flying in a luxury capsule into the stratosphere is presented as an equally luxurious whim that will delight the wealthiest. And it is no longer that far from becoming reality. The company behind the project , Space Perspective, has announced that the first tickets to travel to the stratosphere aboard a “ spaceballoon ” are already on sale, a space ball that will allow you to enjoy privileged views of our planet in an unforgettable excursion of six hours (two of them in the stratosphere, 32 kilometers above the surface) and that has all the imaginable details.
How much does the ticket cost? 125,000 dollars (about 105,000 euros) per seat and the first flights are scheduled for 2024. They will take off from the iconic Kennedy Space Center in Florida (USA). Its price is much lower than that offered by the Blue Origin company, whose tickets cost 28 million dollars at auction. And now, they are open to the general public.
Previously, the company had conducted a private pre-sale period that quickly sold out the first three initial trips into space.
The firm will use a giant balloon to fly its Neptune One capsule. The six-hour trip will offer travelers a relaxed ascent into space with incredible views of Earth in luxurious surroundings that include reclining seats, a bar and also a bathroom. Nor will it be necessary to wear an astronaut suit or do special training. You could even celebrate your wedding on board the Neptune One. And for those who want to share their experience on board, there will also be Wi-Fi inside the capsule that will allow live streaming.
Space tourism is booming
Space Perspective is the newest competitor in this increasingly rich space tourism market. The startup plans to carry passengers and research payloads to the edge of space in a giant high-performance space balloon (the size of a football stadium) and a Spaceship Neptune One capsule.
Up to eight guests will be able to enjoy this space experience each time who will be accompanied by a pilot. Passengers will not experience weightlessness.
When it is time to return to the surface, the giant balloon will begin to deflate and the capsule will eventually fall gently into a large body of water.
Space Perspective is a startup founded in 2020 by Jane Poynter and Taber McCallum, who previously co-founded World View, a company that deploys sensors in the stratosphere connected to balloons to capture space images.
According to the company, which has not revealed how many tickets have already been sold, those who have already purchased their pass include even entire families or people who do not meet the traditional physical requirements to travel to space; there are also well-known cosmos enthusiasts.
Space Perspective has just completed the first test flight of its Neptune One test balloon with no crew on board, reaching heights in excess of 30,000 meters. “The ability to conduct unmanned test flights on board enables more extensive testing of backup and safety systems than is possible with vehicles that require a pilot, making Spaceship Neptune an extremely safe way to go into space. “the company said in a statement.
In the future, the company intends to continue test flights to perfect the technology before the first tourists depart for the stratosphere. Its goal is to make up to 100 flights per year.
