Space travel has been in the news a whole lot lately, with so much progress being made both in terms of space travel and observation – and it’s not going to stop. It’s about to get safer, more comfortable, and even more thrilling, with Space Perspective’s patented capsule design Spaceship Neptune, which after thousands of virtual flight tests and simulations is now in production at the company’s state-of-the-art campus.

The elegant spherical exterior maximises the 360-degree panoramic views via the largest-ever, patented windows to be taken to the edge of space and a roomier Space Lounge interior, offering plenty of headroom as Explorers move around the capsule. A proprietary splash cone ensures Spaceship Neptune’s ocean landing (water is deemed the low risk way to land spacecraft by NASA is gentle and safe. Spaceship Neptune is also the only carbon neutral, zero-emission way to travel to space.

Riding Spaceship Neptune

We are now worlds away from rocket-fueled space endeavours, and the ambitious Space Perspective is working to revolutionise space travel even further. Explorers on board Spaceship Neptune, which will be taking flight commercially from the end of 2024, will be able to safely ascend to the edge of space in the climate-controlled pressurised capsule, propelled by a patented SpaceBalloonTM, absorbing the phenomenal beauty of Earth and vastness of space.

The fast six-hour round trip enables anybody who can board an aeroplane to soak in the beautiful views of the thin blue line circling earth below and the dark vastness of space above from the customizable, luxury Space Lounge, complete with deep and reclining seats, a bar, mood lighting and restroom – we’re already sold. 

The enhanced splash cone has been refined from hundreds of digital iterations for a gentle and safe landing that improves both customer experience and hydrodynamics. With water landings considered by NASA as the low risk way of returning a capsule from space, this is truly the safest space journey. After the gradual, two-hour descent to Earth and a gentle splash down in the ocean, a Space Perspective crew will retrieve passengers, the capsule, and the SpaceBalloonTM by ship – no elements of the transportation are detached during the trip, dramatically reducing variables. 

The design

The newly unveiled design is the product of a partnership between Space Perspective and the new design Studio OMI, but also with Siemens Digital Industries, who performed thousands of in-depth analyses. The resulting design increases the safety of the capsule, enhances the passenger experience, and incorporates groundbreaking new features.

One of these features is the sophisticated, smooth spherical pressure vessel designed for the ultimate Space Lounge experience and comfort. The iconic spherical shape of the exterior accommodates a roomier interior with more headroom, and the additional safety benefits of being optimal for pressure resistance.

The reflective coated windows and centre section, similar to that of an astronaut’s helmet, will limit solar gain and keep the interior Space Lounge comfortable and cool, which adds a level of luxury unforeseen for space travel. That’s not all – the capsule also features a thermal control system designed to amplify comfort even further. With the exterior of the capsule travelling through a wide range of thermally dynamic environments, the system will keep the interiors and Space Explorers at a consistently comfortable temperature. 

Spaceship Neptune’s design is the culmination of serial inventions in patented technologies aligned to space exploration and the phenomenal efforts of a world-class team in examining every aspect of the design and its function. The capsule seamlessly marries the singular demands of space travel in relation to pressure, temperature and structural engineering to the ultimate user experience.

“Space travel presents a new realm of exciting challenges and creative thinking. As design specialists we have integrated the travel experience and aesthetic – from head room and groups of Explorers being able to move around comfortably within Spaceship Neptune from chair to restroom to bar – to, of course, maximising the once-in-a-lifetime views. We now also have an exterior aesthetic that is every bit as powerful as the interior revealed in April - the engineering team have delivered an unsurpassable outcome in relation to performance and safety.” – Dan Window, Experience Design Lead, and Isabella Trani, Experience Designer at OMI

The tech

“Centuries of balloon and parachute operation and development demonstrate that always flying with the balloon from launch through landing, with traditional parachutes as a reserve backup system, is by far the simplest, safest and most robust solution. Our proprietary flight system means that the capsule and SpaceBalloonTM always remain connected, and take-off and landing conditions are always within our control. The team has come together to create an amazingly robust, safe, and incredibly elegant and luxurious system for Spaceship Neptune. Simplicity and automation are the keys to safety.” – Taber MacCallum, Founder, Co-CEO and CTO of Space Perspective

The manufacturing of Spaceship Neptune has already begun with 100.000 square feet (9.290 square metres) of facilities, 300.000 square feet (27.870 square metres) of dedicated testing apron area, and operations centre at the NASA KSC Shuttle Landing Facility. With almost 900 tickets sold to date and the purchase of entire capsules for eight commercial flights are targeted to begin in late 2024. Space Perspective is currently taking reservations for 2025 and beyond. Tickets are priced $125.000 per person, and bookings are made with a fully refundable deposit beginning at $1.000 (customers can also book and pay online via crypto – a first in the commercial space flight industry).

Pictures: Space Perspective