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‘SpaceBalloon’ Lifts Off in Stratospheric Test Flight

The flight on Sunday morning marks the second test of the company’s Spaceship Neptune vehicle, which will float to about 100,000 feet in altitude.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 04:36 PM ET

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Space Perspective’s Neptune capsule lifts off from marine spaceport Voyager beneath a massive, hydrogen-filled balloon. [Courtesy: Space Perspective]

Key Takeaways:

Space Perspective successfully completed the second test flight of its "Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior," a luxury balloon-borne capsule designed for stratospheric tourism.
For $125,000, passengers will embark on a six-hour journey to 100,000 feet for panoramic views of Earth's curvature, with commercial flights slated for 2026 and crewed tests next year.
While staying below the Kármán line (true space), the altitude is sufficient for U.S. regulators to consider it a spacecraft, offering an "overview effect" experience with no required training.

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On Sunday morning off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida, rising alongside the sun was a massive balloon carrying a capsule for stratospheric sightseeing.

That strange sight was the second test flight of the Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior, a test capsule designed and built by U.S. startup Space Perspective. For the price of a $125,000 ticket, the company will ferry as many as eight passengers at a time around the atmosphere in luxurious, panoramic digs for six hours. It seeks to launch commercial flights in 2026 and begin crewed test flights next year.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.