Space Perspective continues its pursuit of proprietary space travel innovation in a carbon-neutral way. The space tourism company has now unveiled the final, patent-pending design of its Spaceship Neptune, the pressurized capsule that will take passengers to the very edge of space. The capsule is now in production at the company’s state-of-the-art campus, near its Operations Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Recently, the company showed off the luxury interior of its Spaceship Neptune capsule, featuring customizable mood lighting, bucket seats, a bar, and a restroom.
Space Perspective plans to take Space Explorers to space inside Spaceship Neptune’s pressurized capsule propelled by a high-performance SpaceBalloon without using rocket fuel or high G forces. The Spaceship Neptune will reach an altitude of 20 miles (30 km) above the Earth’s surface, and passengers will be able to see up to 450 miles (724 km) in every direction. Its design allows for 360-degree panoramic views in which the curvature of Earth and the darkness of space is clearly visible. Each flight will have the capacity to carry eight passengers and take approximately six hours from take-off to landing.
The elegant spherical exterior accommodates a roomier interior with more headroom and the additional safety benefits of being optimal for pressure resistance. It maximizes the 360-degree panoramic views via the largest-ever patented windows to be taken to the edge of space. The proprietary splash cone ensures Spaceship Neptune’s ocean landing is gentle and safe, while the reflective coating on the windows will keep sunlight at bay and keep the interior comfortable and cool. In addition, the thermal control system will work to maintain a consistently comfortable temperature as the capsule travel through a wide range of thermally dynamic environments, Space Perspective said.
With almost 900 tickets sold to date and the purchase of entire capsules for eight popular, commercial flights are targeted to begin in late 2024. Space Perspective is currently taking reservations for 2025 and beyond, and the tickets are priced at $125,000 per person. A test flight of the system has already taken place, with the FAA Office of Commercial Spaceflight regulating its human spaceflight launches.
“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 SpaceBalloonTM 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, incredibly elegant, and luxurious system for Spaceship Neptune. Simplicity and automation are the keys to safety,” said Taber MacCallum, Founder, Co-CEO, and CTO of Space Perspective.
