Tour This Newly Unveiled Luxury Spaceship
In six hours, you can fly from NYC to L.A., drive from Boston to Philadelphia, or experience a round-trip flight to the edge of space and back. Space Perspectives—a Florida-based commercial space voyage company—recently unveiled a new patented spacecraft capsule that will give anyone who can board an airplane the opportunity to view Earth from outside of it.
Named Spaceship Neptune, the patent-pending capsule looks, in many ways, like an oversized astronaut’s helmet. Reflective coated windows offer 360-degree panoramic views of the planet and infinite cosmos, and an interior lounge includes reclining seats, a bar, and a restroom.
The company expects commercial flights to begin in early 2024.
In addition to the striking silhouette, the space craft is propelled by a SpaceBalloon (a term the company has trademarked), which may look like an oversized hot air balloon to anyone who isn't a rocket scientist. The balloon will remain intact through the entire flight, carrying the vessel to the outer limits of the Earth’s atmosphere then back down during a two-hour descent. Traditional parachutes are also included in the design as reserve backups.
Enjoy drinks at the bar with an out-of-this-world view.
“Centuries of balloon and parachute operation and development demonstrate that always flying with the balloon…is by far the simplest, safest, and most robust solution,” Taber MacCallum, founder, co-CEO, and CTO of Space Perspective, said in a statement.
The vessel’s spherical shape creates a roomier interior.
Thanks to the balloon, the Jetson-style transportation is carbon neutral—in fact, it’s currently the only spaceship that can claim this feature. Traditional space launches can leave hefty carbon footprints, releasing up to 300 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In addition to the environmental benefits, the balloon also promises a smoother and calmer ride.
“The team has come together to create an amazingly robust, safe, and incredibly elegant and luxurious system for Spaceship Neptune. Simplicity and automation are the keys to safety,” MacCallum said.
The SpaceBalloon offers a smoother flight experience.
Dan Window and Isabella Trani—cofounders of London-based transport-focused design studio, Of My Imagination—were responsible for spearheading much of the design. The pair have previously worked on other luxury transportation ventures including the new London Tube and the VerticalAerospace VX4 electric aircraft.
“As transportation designers, we are always looking to drive forward how and where we can take people next,” the pair said in a statement. “Space travel is at the pinnacle of that.”
