Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The luxury capsule transporting tourists to space from 2025 – with a £100k price tag

Prepare for jaw-dropping views on this six-hour commercial flight

Joanna Whitehead
Wednesday 28 February 2024 06:39 EST
Comments
First look at luxury capsule transporting travellers to space in 2025

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Space Perspective, the ultra high-altitude tourism company, has unveiled a test capsule for its Neptune spacecraft which could transport travellers to the very edge of space by 2025.

The pressurised capsule is set to embark on its first unmanned test flight in the coming weeks, in the hope of launching commercial flights next year.

According to the company, it will be the largest human spacecraft in operation, with room for eight passengers and a captain.

And unlike its competitors, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, guests won’t have to contend with G-force or zero gravity.

Instead, passengers can look forward to sipping a cocktail in the “space lounge”, which has a fully-stocked bar, high-speed wifi and music (we’d love to curate that playlist).

The new capsule is unveiled
The new capsule is unveiled (Space Perspective)

At 4.9 metres in diameter, the spaceship is two times larger in volume than its rivals and includes a fully functioning toilet – useful, as the trip will last six hours, significantly longer than Virgin Galactic’s 90 minutes to two hours, or Blue Origin’s 11-minute ride.

Its size also accommodates the largest windows ever flown to space, according to the company, perfect for snapping the ultimate selfie and gawping at the jaw-dropping views.

And the price for venturing to the edge of space? A cool £99,031.

Space Perspective describes the craft as “the safest, most luxurious and most responsible way to experience space”.

Space Perspective co-founder Taber MacCallum, who established the company with his wife, Jane Poynter, in 2019, said: “The space capsule is like nothing the world has ever seen.

“We are on the cusp of a staggering shift – not only in the way we humans experience space but also what we conjure in our minds when we think of the spaceship that gets us there.

“We are redefining the category and paving the way for accessible space travel for years to come.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in