We’re one step closer to the spectacle of tourists flying into space in a hot air balloon: Last week, a Florida company called Space Perspective sent a test capsule aboard a balloon to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere and successfully splashed down.
Space Perspective first caught our attention four years ago when the Cape Canaveral-based startup announced plans to conduct tourist balloon flights to altitudes of 100,000 feet (30,480 meters).
The giant hydrogen-filled space balloon and eight-person SpaceShipNeptune pressurized capsule are not in outer space at that altitude, but they are above 99% of the atmosphere, where the curvature of the Earth and the blackness of space are clearly visible.
Space Perspective
The flight takes two hours to reach altitude, followed by two hours of sightseeing, and then another two hours to descend. To descend, gas is slowly released from the balloon.
While this all might sound a bit too fanciful (no pun intended), Space Perspective unveiled a working test version of the capsule last year. Dubbed Spaceship Neptune Excelsior, it was described as a representative example of “the kind of spacecraft the company plans to fly once commercial operations begin,” though it didn’t feature the comfortable interior lounge that was planned for the final model.
The company also announced that it was nearing completion of Ocean Spaceport Voyager, the vessel that will launch the flight and retrieve the capsule and balloon from the ocean after splashdown on the return journey, which led to last week’s flight.
Space Perspective
On September 15, the unmanned Neptune Excelsior (and balloon) launched safely from the deck of the completed ocean spaceport Voyager, off the coast of St. Petersburg, Fla. The capsule reached its target altitude of about 100,000 feet, then made a controlled descent back to the launch site, before safely landing in water and being recovered by the ship’s crew.
According to Space Perspective, the six-hour flight had several key highlights.
Among other things, this was the first use of the unique four-roller mechanism used to lift the balloon off the ship’s deck for launch, as well as real-world tests of the capsule’s thermal control system (to keep passengers from freezing), the balloon’s hydrogen ascent/descent technology, and the Mission Control Center’s unique software and communications systems.
Space Perspective
“This flight, with its gentle ascent, descent and splashdown, successfully demonstrated the extraordinary accessibility of the Spaceship Neptune spaceflight experience – a significant step in opening up space to more people than ever before,” said Jane Poynter, founder of Space Perspective.
The plan is to start manned test flights in the coming months, followed by the first commercial flight of SpaceShipNeptune in 2025. Tickets will cost $125,000.
You can watch the video of the historic launch of the test capsule below.
The Neptune Excelsior spacecraft launches from the deck of the Voyager ocean spaceport.
Source: Space Perspective
