Space Perspective, a US-based company, has revealed the largest spaceflight capsule ever made, which is set to revolutionize space travel. The capsule, named Excelsior, is part of the company’s ambitious plan to take individuals to the edge of space using high-tech space balloons.
Designed to comfortably host eight travelers and a Captain, the capsule has a diameter of 16 feet and a pressurized capacity of over 2,000 cubic feet, making it almost double the size of Virgin Galactic’s Spaceship Two and Blue Origin’s New Shepard and around four times that of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. It also offers several amenities, including a Space Lounge with WiFi and a restroom.
The capsule has large vertical windows for panoramic views and innovative window technology that shields against harmful sunlight wavelengths and regulates the interior temperature. This spacious capsule is poised to redefine the category of space travel and offer accessible space travel for years to come.
According to Taber MacCallum, CTO of Space Perspective, the capsule is like nothing the world has ever seen. The company hopes to commence space trips by 2025, with approximately 1,750 tickets already sold at $125,000 apiece. By the end of the year, the company expects to have sold 4,000 seats, accounting for $400 million in reservations.
Interestingly, this pressurized capsule transporting passengers will rise using a Space Balloon at speeds of approximately 12 mph, making it the most accessible way to travel to space. With no rockets or heavy g-forces involved, it will be as easy as being on an airplane.
Dan Window, capsule design lead, expressed his excitement at seeing the designs become a reality and taking people to space to have a life-changing experience in this beautiful capsule. The Space Perspective team is on the cusp of a staggering shift in the way humans experience space, and they are paving the way for accessible space travel for years to come.
