Space Perspective is gearing up for its inaugural crewed flight of the stratospheric balloon, with Virgin Galactic’s founder, Richard Branson, joining the adventure.
Branson, alongside pilot and engineer Per Lindstrand, is known for their groundbreaking hot-air balloon journeys across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans three decades ago. He will take on the role of co-pilot in this upcoming flight, which Space Perspective aims to execute next year. The founders of Space Perspective, Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter, will accompany Branson as fellow co-pilots aboard the Spaceship Neptune balloon.
“Many of the most incredible experiences of my life have occurred during ballooning adventures, and I’m thrilled to support Space Perspective in this venture,” Branson stated this week. He previously traveled to the edge of space with Virgin Galactic in 2021. “I have a passion for adventure and for assisting fellow entrepreneurs in realizing their business aspirations. I can’t wait to revive my old ballooning license in preparation for some extraordinary test flights.”
Last month, Space Perspective successfully completed an uncrewed test flight of its balloon. The pressurized capsule, which operates on hydrogen, has the capacity to carry up to eight passengers to an altitude of 20 miles—approximately 105,000 feet, which is about three times higher than a typical commercial flight.
This Florida-based company aims to create a luxurious adventure, offering breathtaking views of Earth contrasted against the dark expanse of space over a six-hour journey from takeoff to landing. Tickets for the experience were made available in 2021 at a price of $125,000 per person.
Unlike the space tourism experiences offered by Blue Origin’s New Shepard and Branson’s Virgin Galactic, which both utilize rocket propulsion to reach the fringes of space, Space Perspective presents a gentler approach. The journey involves no rockets, intense g-forces, or weightlessness, eliminating the need for extensive training. However, it is worth noting that the altitude achieved is only about one-third of what passengers experience with both Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic.
“Richard’s groundbreaking work in the ballooning sector greatly inspired us when founding Space Perspective,” Poynter remarked. “Our mission now is to offer explorers breathtaking views of our planet against a pitch-black sky, all in a gentle manner that only hot-air balloons can provide.”