(CNN) — The space tourism race is now firing on all rockets, but one company is hoping to carve out a niche as “the only carbon-neutral, zero-emission way” to travel to the edge of space.
Florida-based Space Perspective plans to take passengers up to 100,000 feet for suborbital adventures in a pressurized capsule suspended from an enormous high-tech version of a hot-air balloon. New images released July 27 show the latest patented capsule design for its Spaceship Neptune craft.
It’s a roomier interior than in previous iterations, with a spherical capsule design affording travelers more head height, as well as adding the safety benefit of being optimal for pressure resistance. And we get a better look at the luxury Space Lounge, with its deep reclining seats, mood lighting and well-stocked bar.
Reflective coated windows, similar to an astronaut’s helmet, are in place to help keep temperatures comfortable, while a new thermal control system is patent-pending.
Space Perspective worked on this fresh design with London-based studio Of My Imagination (OMI). The 360-degree panoramic views afforded by what Space Perspective describes as “the largest ever, patented windows to be taken to the edge of the space” were — in a satisfying example of nominative determinism — developed by Spaceship Neptune’s experience design lead Dan Window, along with experienced designer Isabella Trani.
Other improvements include a patent-pending splash cone for a smooth and safe water landing at sea.
And in terms of scale, the company compares the capsule to the size of “a large balcony stateroom on a cruise ship,” while the balloon is some 18,000,000 cubic feet when fully expanded — so big enough for a football stadium to float inside it.
$125,000 ticket
As it doesn’t leave Earth’s gravity, no specialist training will be required and travelers will be able to walk around the capsule environment. The company claims the boarding process will be as simple as that of an airplane.
The trips will involve a two-hour gentle ascent above 99% of the Earth’s atmosphere. There’ll then be another leisurely two hours for passengers to enjoy the views from the cabin before the spaceship makes its two-hour…
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