CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space Perspective, the pioneering company behind the world’s first carbon-neutral spaceflight experience, has released images of its newly completed test capsule, Spaceship Neptune – Excelsior. This marks a significant milestone for the company as it prepares for its upcoming test flights, with the SpaceBalloon finished and the launch vessel, Marine Spaceport Voyager, nearing completion.
Spaceship Neptune, named Excelsior in honor of the late balloon space-jump pioneer Joe Kittinger, is set to become the largest human spacecraft in operation, second only to space stations. With a diameter of 16 feet, the capsule offers over 2,000 cubic feet of pressurized volume, providing unprecedented space and comfort for passengers. This groundbreaking design offers a unique spaceflight experience, boasting the largest windows ever flown to space, allowing for unparalleled views of the Earth and stars.
Dan Window, the capsule design lead, expressed deep emotion upon entering the completed capsule, highlighting the decade-long journey to this point alongside Space Perspective’s founders, Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum. The team’s dedication to creating a life-changing experience in space is evident in the capsule’s spacious interior and iconic design, which includes massive windows designed to offer expansive views without altering the colors seen outside.
Space Perspective’s approach to space travel involves innovative design and patents, including the capsule’s spherical shape for optimal pressure and space, vertical windows for panoramic views, and patented technologies for safety and comfort. The capsule is designed to accommodate eight Explorers and a Captain, aiming to set a record for the most people taken to the edge of space.
As Space Perspective nears the launch of its test flights, the completion of the Spaceship Neptune – Excelsior capsule represents a leap forward in making space travel more accessible and sustainable, promising a new era of space exploration for the public.