Sir Richard Branson is set to co-pilot a pioneering hydrogen “space balloon” designed to take high-paying passengers higher into the stratosphere than any commercial balloon flight has achieved before. The Virgin Galactic founder will lead the voyage aboard the Spaceship Neptune, which will elevate him and seven other guests 20 miles above Earth, as announced by Florida-based Space Perspective.
This extraordinary experience comes at a price, with each passenger expected to pay $125,000 for the six-hour journey. The luxurious capsule features a cabin filled with windows, plush seating, gourmet dining, cocktails, and even onboard Wi-Fi. Notably, it includes a “proper” bathroom known as the “Space Spa.” The trip includes two hours for ascent, two hours for passengers to marvel at the breathtaking view of Earth’s curvature, and two hours of leisurely floating in the upper atmosphere.
Passengers need not be as physically fit as astronauts; Space Perspective assures that the flight will be no more strenuous than a commercial airline journey. Over 1,800 people have already reserved their spots on the highly anticipated flight, which successfully completed its first test flight last month.
Branson, an avid balloonist and investor in Space Perspective, expressed his excitement for the venture. “Some of the most magnificent experiences of my life have happened on ballooning expeditions, and I’m excited to support Space Perspective in its journey,” he stated. He will be joined by company founders Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter, who credited Branson’s pioneering ballooning efforts as a significant inspiration for their endeavor.
This will not be Branson’s first foray into suborbital space. In 2021, he made headlines by becoming the first billionaire to fly in a self-funded rocket, reaching an altitude of 53 miles aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Eve. Despite some setbacks earlier this year, including a temporary grounding of Virgin Galactic’s $450,000-per-flight space tourism, the excitement around Space Perspective’s balloon flight continues to grow, with a planned launch in 2025.
