This space balloon could be up, up and away by next year
EOS-X Space has announced that its “Spaceship capsules” will be ready to fly passengers to the stratosphere by 2025.
Travellers will pay between €150,000 and €200,000 to rise to an altitude of 131,000 feet (40,000 metres), or about 25 miles, above Earth.
The pressurized carbon-fibre Spaceship will be propelled by a zero-emission, helium-filled balloon, and carry up to seven passengers and one pilot to the edge of space.
Each flight will last for around five hours, with capsules launching from their bases at dawn, ascending for two hours, cruising in the stratosphere, and then descending.
The capsules’ interiors are fitted out with ergonomic seats, panoramic windows, an onboard bar, and a bathroom.
EOS-X Space, Europe’s first exploration company, plans to operate flights from Seville, Spain, and from a second location in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Those flying out of Seville will be able to explore the firm’s ‘SpaceHub Complex’ in La Isla de la Cartuja and stay in an ultra-luxury hotel in the city.
The company has spent more than $230 million on engineering and development, and is currently in a €115 million investment round led by U.S. investment bank FTI Capital Advisor.
Its CEO and founder Kemel Kharbachi is also in the process of completing the necessary validation tests in collaboration with the National Institute for Aerospace Technology.
Trials are expected to start soon with the help of the military.
In a statement, the company said: “EOS-X SPACE, the first European space exploration company, of Spanish origin, faces the last half of 2024 in a decisive way to complete its start-up and mark a historic milestone for Spain in this incipient industry.
“Thanks to the potential of this new way of doing tourism – with a current market of US$9 billion – the company has solid scalability forecasts and expects revenue growth of 220% in five years.”
Main image © EOS-X SPACE
