Space Perspective to launch balloon trips from Florida’s Space Coast. Here’s how it works

Christie Zizo, Digital Editor

James Sparvero, Reporter

TITUSVILLE, Fla. – People will soon have the ability to travel to space via balloon.

Space Perspective cut the ribbon on a new facility near Kennedy Space Center Tuesday. The company is planning to take its first passengers to space in 2024.

Space Perspective uses a capsule tethered to a SpaceBalloon to lift nine people — eight passengers and a pilot — into a gentle flight at 12 mph, reaching 100,000 feet above most of Earth’s atmosphere, and then slowly descends back to the planet until it splashes down in the ocean. The flight is meant to take about 6 hours.

The company says the balloon is based on proven NASA technology, and is propelled by hydrogen, making it a carbon-neutral space flight.

Guests will be able to get a great view of Earth from the lounge in the capsule, which has large windows, WiFi, a bar and a bathroom, as well as seating. The capsule can also be reconfigured for special events, like weddings.

Flights will launch either from a sea-based ship or from land-based ports like Kennedy Space Center.

The flight costs $125,000 a person.

Space Perspective said it’s already sold more than a thousand tickets to customers around the world.

Co-CEO Jane Poynter said the ticket price is a major part of making space more accessible.

“We are certainly less expensive than any other way to get to space, but it’s also accessible because it’s so comfortable, it’s so gentle,” she said. “There’s no training. There’s no special suit, any of that, no high G-forces.”

The new facility can manufacture two balloons at the same time.

“The only high-volume space balloon factory in the world,” Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R-Indialantic) said during Tuesday’s dedication.

Poynter said the first balloon built at the factory is expected to be finished in about a month.

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