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In the expanding frontier of space exploration, companies like Space Perspective are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, not only in terms of reaching space but also in doing so sustainably. The company’s latest development, in partnership with Guice Offshore, is the MS Voyager, a marine spaceport designed to launch the innovative Spaceship Neptune, the world’s first carbon-neutral spaceship.
“Instead of using rockets, we use space balloons. Balloons afford this incredibly gentle flight. There’s no g-force acceleration, just a smooth and serene journey to space”
– Jane Poynter, CEO of Space Perspective
The Company: Space Perspective
Founded in 2019, Space Perspective is based near Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is the world’s first luxury space travel company aiming to make space accessible to a broader audience. Its ambitious vision involves providing a serene and environmentally friendly space travel experience, using balloons rather than rockets to take travelers to the edge of space. This approach minimizes the environmental impact often associated with traditional space launches.
Space Perspective’s mission is to provide passengers with a “quintessential astronaut experience,” allowing them to view Earth from 100,000 feet above the planet’s surface—an altitude from which the curvature of the Earth and the vastness of space become evident. Travelers will ascend gently in a pressurized capsule that promises comfort, luxury, and safety, making the experience as accessible as possible for a wide range of participants.
“Explorers enjoy Wi-Fi, a world-class culinary program, plush safety seating, luxury amenities, and panoramic views through the largest windows ever flown to space—even a proper restroom (the Space Spa)” (Source: Space Perspective).
The MS Voyager: A Unique Marine Spaceport
At the heart of this operation is the MS Voyager, a 294-foot-long, 56-foot-wide dynamically positioned Class 2 platform vessel, extensively modified to act as the launch and recovery platform for the Spaceship Neptune. It boasts impressive technological advancements, including Caterpillar 3516 engines and a custom A-frame for capsule retrieval, ensuring smooth launches and recoveries. Operating out of Port Canaveral, Voyager can accommodate up to 42 people and includes berthing, lounges, and a hospital, making it fully equipped for international and domestic space tourism (Guice Offshore).
The ship itself has been retrofitted to run on biofuel, a step in line with Space Perspective’s goal of creating an eco-friendly space travel experience. By launching from a marine platform, Space Perspective aims to offer flexible and diverse launch locations across the globe, removing the limitations imposed by traditional land-based spaceports.
The Spacecraft: Spaceship Neptune
The Spaceship Neptune offers a unique form of space travel. Instead of the high speeds and G-forces associated with rocket launches, passengers aboard Spaceship Neptune will be carried aloft by a massive SpaceBalloon™. The spacecraft ascends slowly to the edge of space, providing a gentle and accessible experience for a wide range of participants. The pressurized capsule, designed with luxury and comfort in mind, will stay at its peak altitude for several hours before making a gentle water landing. A specialized retrieval system aboard the MS Voyager ensures the safe and smooth recovery of the capsule (Guice Offshore).
“Spaceship Neptune features the largest windows ever flown to space, offering unparalleled views with optimal optical properties through a special UV-reflective coating. The 15 repeating windows are designed to create the best angles for both seated and standing passengers” (Source: Space Perspective).
Uncrewed Flight Test
On September 15, 2024, Space Perspective, the world’s first carbon-neutral spaceflight company, successfully completed an uncrewed flight test of its Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior. The launch took place from the MS Voyager, off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida. The flight tested critical elements of their space tourism platform, including spacecraft design, flight safety, and marine spaceport innovations.
“This flight successfully demonstrated the extraordinary accessibility of Spaceship Neptune’s spaceflight experience with its gentle ascent, descent and splashdown, a critical step in opening space up to more people than ever before possible. -Jane Poynter, Founder of Space Perspective
During the six-hour journey, Spaceship Neptune reached an altitude of 100,000 feet before performing a controlled descent and splashdown, demonstrating its full flight profile. Key advancements showcased included a novel launch mechanism aboard the MS Voyager and the validation of the spacecraft’s safety features, such as maintaining cabin pressure and thermal management. The SpaceBalloon™, utilizing renewable hydrogen gas, successfully lifted the capsule and ensured a smooth return (Guice Offshore).
The data collected from this test will aid in refining Space Perspective’s technology, including its “digital twin” system, which simulates the spacecraft’s operations. These developments bring the company closer to launching human spaceflights in 2025, with commercial operations slated for 2026. The flight marks a significant step in Space Perspective’s mission to make space travel accessible to more people.
Their Mission
The mission of Space Perspective is to bring the astronaut experience to a wide range of people who can then share that experience in their art, music, and stories. The use of biofuel-powered marine spaceports and the carbon-neutral Spaceship Neptune sets a new standard in the space tourism industry, which has traditionally been associated with high emissions and exclusivity. By innovating with the MS Voyager and Spaceship Neptune, Space Perspective is not only expanding access to space but also doing so with a commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of such endeavors (Guice Offshore).
“Spaceship Neptune offers a moving and much more expansive perspective that enlightens the human consciousness, showing how interconnected we are with all living organisms” (Source: SpaceNews).
With plans to expand this fleet of marine spaceports, Space Perspective is positioned to offer a truly global space travel experience, revolutionizing the industry. The company’s innovative approach combines cutting-edge technology, luxury travel, and environmental stewardship, making space exploration a possibility for more people while contributing to global efforts toward sustainability. Your seat awaits. To reserve a single seat costs $1,000. The total cost is $125,000 per seat.