Space

Space Perspective shows off test version of tourist-carrying space capsule

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This version of the Spaceship Neptune capsule will be the subject of upcoming test flights
Space Perspective
The planned commercial version of the Neptune
Space Perspective
A peek inside the final version of the capsule
Space Perspective
This version of the Spaceship Neptune capsule will be the subject of upcoming test flights
Space Perspective
The just-completed test model of the Neptune is described as being highly instrumented and representative of "what the company will be flying once commercially operational"
Space Perspective
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When someone says they're planning on using a balloon to take tourists to the edge of outer space, you may wonder if they'll ever get past the conceptual stage. Space Perspective has gotten past it, though, by building a physical test model of its Neptune capsule.

We first heard about Florida-based company Space Perspective back in 2020, when it first announced its intention to take batches of eight paying passengers (and one pilot) on six-hour flights up to an altitude of 100,000 feet (30,480 m). At that height, the curvature of the earth and the blackness of outer space are clearly visible.

The passengers would ride in a pressurized capsule called Spaceship Neptune, which would hang beneath a hydrogen-filled "football stadium-length SpaceBalloon." It would take two hours to reach altitude, followed by two hours of sightseeing, followed by another two hours to descend. In order to do the latter, gas would slowly be released from the balloon.

The planned commercial version of the Neptune
Space Perspective

The capsule would be outfitted with plush seats, a refreshments bar, a Wi-Fi communications system capable of live-streaming, 360-degree panoramic windows and a below-deck toilet. That level of luxury is only to be expected, given the fact that seats are already being sold in advance for US$125,000 a pop.

The just-completed test model of the Neptune is described as being highly instrumented and representative of "what the company will be flying once commercially operational." That said, it does lack the cushy interior lounge, as it's made solely to be the subject of multiple test flights. The first of those flights will be uncrewed, followed by crewed flights planned to take place later next year.

A peek inside the final version of the capsule
Space Perspective

"The entire company is hugely motivated by reaching this milestone together and seeing Spaceship Neptune come to life before our eyes so spectacularly," said Space Perspective founder and co-CEO Taber MacCallum.

The company is also reportedly nearing completion of the Marine Spaceport Voyager, a ship from which the flights will be launched, and which will retrieve the capsule and balloon from the ocean after splashdown upon return.

Source: Space Perspective

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2 comments
Chase
First thing I thought of when I saw the image of the capsule:
"I can't swallow that"
"Well, then good news! It's a suppository."
Treon Verdery
at $125,000 a ride they could ask people to image their favorite chair or couch, and then put an identical one on the flight, or even send the favorite chair or couch on the flight too. Might as well double the size of the capsule if the hydrogen balloon is really 300 yards, near .9 Km big and make the people really comfy. Have art gallery art on the walls to acquire as a memory builder and investment. Have a physician clear all passengers for use of nootropics, and recommend nootropics that create enthusiasm, memory, and cognitive fluency like deprenyl or adderall with phenylpiracetam. make two bathrooms, one with a windowed lounge for people to have sex in. That builds appreciation and word of mouth recommendations. The physician can prescribe nasal spray FDA approved aphrodisiac Vyleesi/bremelanotide and cabergoline, and cialis to both women and men for use previous to the trip, as well as during the trip. It could be a $400-2K added fee. the flight attendant beneficially makes video and 3D camera dynamic images of each passenger, entire group image, and social group occurrence, and passes out usb flash drives of the imaging to each passenger 40 minutes previous to landing. along with the windows, an 8K bigscreen monitor plays and displays a 360 or 720 degree surroundings of the capsule from cameras mounted on the exterior of the capsule. The windows of the capsule also benefit from having an antireflective coating that makes 92pct optically transmissive glass be 99pct optically transmissive.