Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson will co-pilot the first crewed flight by Space Perspective, a stratospheric ballooning company. Branson, known for his record-breaking hot-air balloon expeditions across the Atlantic (1987) and Pacific (1991), will take to the skies again on this mission, expected in 2025.
Space Perspective aims to send paying customers to the stratosphere using a hydrogen-filled balloon and a specially designed crew capsule, Spaceship Neptune. The journey will provide a high-altitude experience, offering stunning views of Earth without reaching the edge of space.
Credit : spaceperspective
Branson has expressed excitement for the upcoming mission, reflecting on past ballooning experiences. He also noted his investment in Space Perspective, which has raised $100 million so far, and emphasized his passion for supporting entrepreneurs in their business ventures.
The Spaceship Neptune capsule is designed for comfort, featuring large windows, a bar, and a bathroom, making it suitable for a six-hour journey. The capsule will travel at wind speed, offering passengers a leisurely experience.
Spaceship Neptune will reach an altitude of 20 miles (32 kilometres), below the boundary of space but high enough to offer breathtaking views of Earth against the blackness of space. The flight differs from suborbital rocket rides like those offered by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin.
Credit : spaceperspective
Branson will be able to compare this balloon journey to his suborbital trip aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity in July 2021, when he reached the edge of space. This will allow him to contrast the two different experiences.
Credit : spaceperspective
Branson will be joined by Space Perspective co-founders Taber MacCollum and Jane Poynter on the flight. Both will serve as co-pilots alongside Branson, whose previous work in ballooning was a key inspiration for the founding of the company.
Space Perspective has already secured reservations from over 1,800 customers for future flights aboard Spaceship Neptune, with each seat priced at $125,000. In comparison, Virgin Galactic’s suborbital trips currently cost $450,000, while Blue Origin has not disclosed its ticket prices.
Credit : spaceperspective