Next year, you can visit the edge of space in a balloon
As the world’s billionaires race to send tourists into orbit, a French pioneer has quietly set the date for a commercial trip to the rim of Earth’s atmosphere.
It sounds like science fiction; exploring the edge of space in a pod attached to a giant balloon.
But from next year, intrepid travellers with a spare $200,000 will be able to do just that. French aeronautics company Zephalto has announced it will undertake an expedition to the edge of Earth’s stratosphere in ‘Celeste’, a pressurised capsule and balloon craft the size of France’s Sacré-Cœur Basilica.
Seven years in the making, the spaceship was developed by Zephalto founder Vincent Farret d‘Astiès and his team of aerospace experts, in partnership with companies including Airbus and French government space agency The National Centre for Space Studies.
It’s incredibly energy efficient, requiring just 26.6 kilograms of CO2 to complete the six-hour journey; about the same amount needed to produce a pair of jeans.
It will take the ship about 90 minutes to reach its destination – a height of 25 kilometres above ground – during which six passengers will have the chance to see the curvature of the Earth as they float at the cusp of our atmosphere.
On its website, the company explains passengers will be given a “new perspective on the universe” during the flight. “Experience the Overview Effect and feel the extraordinary emotion that only 600 astronauts have felt so far,” it reads. “By observing, as they did, the curvature of the Earth from space, you will live an overwhelming experience that transcends humanity and discover a new perspective on the universe.”
The concept may sound terrifying, but according to the company’s website, the balloon’s safety certifications will be the same as those of any commercial liner. Aside from offering an incredible view of the planet, ticket holders will be wined and dined before and during the journey.
Guests will be offered accommodation in the days prior to lift off at a luxury ‘space resort’ in France, before being shuttled to a nearby Spaceport, the first of several ports which will be developed around the world, possibly including Australia.
Zephalto is among a number of innovative companies designing lower emission aircraft for commercial travel. Ocean Sky Cruises; which has designed a helium-powered luxury airship for commercial travel, is expected to embark on its maiden voyage to the North Pole at the end of 2026.
The commercial space race taking place between billionaires Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos might be dominating the aerospace conversation, but Zephalto’s eco-friendly craft might be the most achievable option for those of us wanting to explore the fringes of Earth’s atmosphere in the near future.