If you’ve ever fancied a trip to space but don’t think you’ve got what it takes to become an astronaut then fear not, because one US company is helping bring the dream of space travel a lot closer.
Space Perspective has unveiled its finalised plans for its Spaceship Neptune - a swish capsule that travels 20 miles above Earth while offering a host of luxury amenities including a bar and reclining seats.
Tickets will set you back a whopping $125,000 and once up and running Space Perspective plans to offer up to eight passengers at a time the chance to take part in the six-hour round trip.
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Unlike other companies offering space travel, Space Perspective uses balloons to take its pod into space, meaning there’s no harsh take off, like you’d experience with a rocket or plane.
Taber MacCallum, founder, co-CEO and CTO of Space Perspective, said: “Centuries of balloon and parachute operation and development demonstrate that always flying with the balloon from launch through landing, with traditional parachutes as a reserve backup system, is by far the simplest, safest and most robust solution.
“Our proprietary flight system means that the capsule and SpaceBalloon always remain connected, and take-off and landing conditions are always within our control. The team has come together to create an amazingly robust, safe, and incredibly elegant and luxurious system for Spaceship Neptune.”
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Because it uses a balloon, the space pods don’t reach as high as competitor space travels firms - Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin hits 65 miles and Virgin Galactic's 50 miles - but this means you won’t experience zero gravity, so you’ll be able to relax, enjoy the view and sip on a cocktail without being suspended in mid-air.
Space Perspective is also a lot cheaper than other space travel companies - a recent auction saw just one ticket for a Blue Origin flight selling for an eye-watering $28 million.
The company has already flogged 900 tickets for its flights, which it says will kick off in late 2024.
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Space Neptune designers Dan Window and Isabella Trani said: “As design specialists we have integrated the travel experience and aesthetic – from head room and groups of Explorers being able to move around comfortably within Spaceship Neptune from chair to restroom to bar – to, of course, maximising the once-in-a-lifetime views.
“We now also have an exterior aesthetic that is every bit as powerful as the interior ... the engineering team have delivered an unsurpassable outcome in relation to performance and safety.”
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Topics: International Space Station, US News, Travel
Claire Reid