Thelife- Zephalto, a French startup, is selling "pre-reservation tickets" for upcoming trips to space.
- The tickets give customers a chance to secure their seats when booking reopens.
Zephalto, a French space-balloon startup, is pushing ahead with its plans for luxury trips to space.
The private space company is selling "pre-reservation tickets" for upcoming trips on board a high-tech balloon.
While the tickets cost €10,000, or $10,900, according to the website's booking page, the total cost of the trip is €120,000. It includes a luxury dinner complete with French wine — served to travelers while they float around 15.5 miles above the planet.
The company told CNN that tickets for the first flights from 2024 to mid-2025 have already sold out. The pre-reservation tickets that are now on sale give people a chance to reserve a seat on flights from 2025 onwards.
Founder Vincent Farret d'Astiès previously told Bloomberg that the company had partnered with the French space agency to work on the concept of the balloon. He added that he was planning 60 trips per year.
The balloon will ascend at a speed of 4 meters per second until it reaches 25 km above Earth. The ascent last 90 minutes, according to Zephalto's website. The capsule, accommodating up to six guests, will then float above Earth for three hours, allowing travelers to enjoy their food with a view.
Farret d'Astiès, a former air traffic controller, told CNN that "the view and overall journey remains the central focus of the offering, allowing guests to appreciate and take in the beauty of their surroundings."
Representatives for Zephalto did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.