Space Perspective has raised $40 million so it can give space tourists a gentle ride to the edge of space by attaching vehicles to giant space balloons. This is a rarely explored alternative to rockets as a way to reach the edge of the atmosphere. The company has already sold out its initial reservations for $125,000 for a six-hour flight.
Billed as the world’s first luxury spaceflight experience, Cape Canaveral-based Space Perspective argues that you can enjoy the thrill of space exploration without having to endure a multi-g-force ride on a rocket.
Instead, a balloon the size of a football stadium will take you up gently to the edge of the atmosphere, 20 miles above the Earth.
There, you can snap pictures that show the view of Earth from space, including the curvature of the planet.
VC firm Prime Movers Lab led the round with additional participation from existing and new investors. The new injection of capital marks the first time a human space balloon company has raised this level of investment.
The private company’s Neptune One will become the first space launch operator to launch from Space Coast Spaceport (adjacent to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida), starting as early as 2024. The company did a successful test flight on June 18.
Space explorers and travel adventurers looking to upgrade their bucket list will savor 360-degree views of planet Earth from 20 miles above in a six-hour trip inside a balloon called Spaceship Neptune, a state-of-the-art space balloon the size of a football stadium.
“It’s a new day in space travel, and our investors are responding to a vocal and growing market of travellers seeking a safe portal for this ultimate journey.” said the company.