The June 18 test flight carried a number of scientific payloads, company representatives said. (To clarify: The capsule does not technically reach space, the boundary of which is regarded to lie either 50 miles or 62 miles above Earth's surface, depending on whom you ask.) "This test flight of Neptune One kicks off our extensive test flight campaign, which will be extremely robust because we can perform tests without a pilot, making Spaceship Neptune an extremely safe way to go to space," he added. "I could not be more proud of the performance of the team and the flight system," Space Perspective co-CEO and co-founder Taber MacCallum said in a statement. It reached a maximum altitude of 108,409 feet (33,043 m) and splashed down as planned in the Gulf of Mexico, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) off Florida's west coast, Space Perspective representatives said. The uncrewed flight, which used a full-size Spaceship Neptune simulator, lasted six hours and 39 minutes. The company took a big step toward achieving that goal last Friday (June 18), launching its first test flight from the Space Coast Spaceport in Florida, which is next door to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Space Perspective aims to begin commercial operations by the end of 2024. Related: Photos: The first space tourists Test flight, too And Spaceship Neptune will feature reclining seats, panoramic windows, a refreshments bar and a bathroom, among other amenities. Because the capsule is lofted by a giant balloon, the ascent is gentle, with none of the high G-forces associated with rocket launches.
The experience will be low-impact and relatively luxurious, Space Perspective representatives say.
Spaceship Neptune passengers will spend about six hours aboard the capsule during their flights, which will take them above 99% of Earth's atmosphere and show our planet against the blackness of space. Space Perspective's "Neptune One" balloon-borne test vehicle took this photo from an altitude of about 100,000 feet (30,000 meters) during the company's first test flight, on June 18, 2021.įlorida-based company Space Perspective has started accepting seat reservations for its "Spaceship Neptune," a balloon-borne pressurized capsule designed to carry eight passengers and one pilot to an altitude of 100,000 feet (30,000 meters). You can now book a seat on a balloon ride to the stratosphere - if you've got pretty deep pockets.
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