Space Perspective is building a balloon that will be able to transport passengers and research equipment to the "edge of space."
There are several companies looking to enter the emerging "space tourism" marketplace, but Space Perspective sets itself apart with its balloon design, named Spaceship Neptune. This balloon will accompany a pressurized and spacious cabin, creating a comfortable traveling experience for its passengers, according to its maker.
The final goal is to carry passengers and research equipment to and from above 99% of the atmosphere, but its first flight in 2021 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida will be unmanned. In order to accommodate these plans, Space Neptune's balloon will be the size of a football field and will release almost no emissions, according to its maker.
Spaceship Neptune's cabin will be built to accommodate up to eight passengers on a six-hour long trip. The journey will begin with a two-hour, 100,000-foot climb. At its final height, the Earth's curvature and space's darkness will be visible to people in the balloon, according to Dave Mosher's reporting on Space Perspective.
The aircraft will then stay there for an additional two hours to allow passengers to enjoy the views of Earth and space through the floor-to-ceiling windows before descending back to the ground, which will also be another two-hour journey.
The trip will finally end on a body of water with an awaiting ship to pick up the passengers, balloon, and cabin from the water.