Spaceship Neptune is set to begin carrying passengers to the stratosphere in 2024, provided everything goes according to plan.
The spacecraft from Space Perspective will hang below a giant balloon. (Photo: Space Perspective)
Space Perspective, a company based in Florida, is planning to take paying passengers and research equipment to the stratosphere aboard the “Spaceship Neptune,” a pressurized cabin flying at high altitudes beneath a massive balloon. The company recently shared images of the interior design of Spaceship Neptune on April 12, featuring 360-degree panoramic windows, even in the restroom.
According to the images, the cabin of Spaceship Neptune has at least two configurations. One configuration includes reclining seats, while the other features a sofa for two, suitable for dining or special events. Space Perspective also offers catering services, adjustable lighting for stargazing or viewing the curvature of the Earth outside. The cabin is equipped with a TV, interactive screens, floor lighting, and various plants.
“Our mission is to inspire space explorers to connect more with the Earth and with each other,” shared Jane Poynter, the founder and CEO of Space Perspective.
Space Perspective’s flights will take off at dawn and will take approximately 2 hours to reach a maximum altitude of 30 kilometers. Spaceship Neptune will spend 2 hours at that altitude before descending to the ocean over the next 2 hours. The company plans to recover the spacecraft using a ship.
Space Perspective hopes to commence commercial flights in 2024. To date, the company has a waiting list of about 600 people. They have also attracted millions of dollars in investment and successfully conducted an unmanned test flight at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 2021.
