Space Perspective Sends tourists into the stratosphere

A 90-meter cruise ship will allow thrill-seekers to travel into the stratosphere.

Florida's Space Perspective unveiled MS Voyager as part of its fleet to launch worldwide.

The balloon-like, bio-fuel-powered vessel will be based in Florida but can navigate to other locations prone to good weather conditions. This will allow the company to launch year-round launches for travelers who wish to travel into the stratosphere.

Space Perspective's Florida launch will be supplemented by other marine spaceports.

According to the company, an at-sea launch platform creates more flexible conditions to lift off. The company plans to send the balloons into orbit at different times throughout the day, including sunrise and sunset to enjoy stargazing experiences.

Space Perspective began selling tickets for flights last year.

The cost of a ticket to take the Spaceship Neptune capsule for six hours starts at $125,000. It will provide explorers with individual reclining seats as well as 360-degree panoramic views.

The journey will transport passengers approximately 100,000 feet above the Earth when it takes off in 2024. More than 1,000 tickets have been sold.

“Space Perspective will change your relationship with our planet by providing the quintessential astronaut experience of viewing Earth from the blackness of space,” said Jane Poynter, Space Perspective’s founder and co-chief executive.

“It’s imperative for us to think about our business with a global mindset. Removing geographic borders for launch and landing accelerates our mission of making this transformative experience more accessible to the world and international marketplace — safely, reliably and with minimal impact on our planet.”

At a Louisiana shipyard, MS Voyager is being prepared for her journey. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will allow for test voyages to begin in the new calendar year.

It was named Voyager in honor of the Voyager 1 space probe mission. At Carl Sagan's request, it took a photo from across the solar system and captured Earth on February 14, 1990.

The Pale Blue Dot image inspired Sagan to ask humans to "preserve & cherish the pale blue dot, our only home," words Space Perspective uses to fuel its mission today.

Travelers will return safely to Earth after splashing into the ocean. There, boats will stabilize the capsules and then lift them onto MS Voyager or another marine spaceport via a custom-built structure.

You can secure a ticket for flights that take off in 2024 by depositing $1,000. You can also book a whole capsule for up to eight friends.

Source: thenationalnews.com