Space Perspective has announced the first flight of a crewed balloon, which will be joined by well-known entrepreneur Richard Branson. His participation in the test flight as co-pilot supports the project along with founders Taber MacCollum and Jane Poynter.
Branson has an extensive background in ballooning, having set records crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in hot air balloons with Per Lindstrand as far back as 30 years ago. “Some of my most vivid memories involve hot air ballooning and I’m excited to join this new journey,” he said. Branson, who has been to the edge of space with Virgin Galactic in 2021, noted that he is already preparing to renew his aeronautics license.
Last month, Space Perspective successfully conducted a test flight of an uncrewed balloon. Their hydrogen-powered capsule can lift up to eight passengers to an altitude of about 32 kilometers – three times the flight altitude of commercial airplanes.
The company’s goal is to offer tourists a unique six-hour flight in comfort with luxurious service and fantastic views of the Earth against the black sky. Space Perspective has started selling tickets for these journeys back in 2021, setting the price at $125,000 per seat.
In contrast to other tourist missions, such as Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic, which use rockets to take them to the edge of space, the flight from Space Perspective takes place without overloading or weightlessness. It’s a soft and comfortable trip, despite being at a much lower altitude than the competition.
“Richard’s pioneering efforts in the ballooning industry were a key inspiration for us,” noted Poynter, “We are now on a mission to give Explorers breathtaking views of the Earth against a black sky, and do so gently in a way that only balloons enable.”
Earlier we reported on how a Polaris Dawn space tourist shared his experiences in outer space.
According to Space.com
