Olé! Spanish space balloon will carry passengers to edge of space for €150,000

John E. Kaye

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
RECENT ARTICLES
-
New IBM–NASA AI aims to forecast solar flares before they knock out satellites or endanger astronauts
-
Uber plots Channel Tunnel disruption with app-bookable high-speed trains
-
Global tech leaders back Nigeria’s $1 trillion digital ambition at GITEX Nigeria 2025
-
Scientists are racing to protect sea coral with robots and AI as heatwaves devastate reefs
-
Game, set...wax. Billie Jean King statue unveiled in New York
-
Vegas on a losing streak as visitors drop 11%
-
The European launches new Digital Content Exchange Network
-
Munich unveils new hydrogen lab as Europe steps up green energy race
-
Dubai Humanitarian launches film highlighting $48m global aid effort
-
Inside MINISO’s new giant Amsterdam store aimed at Europe’s Gen Z shoppers
-
Global demand drives record enrolment at Mohamed bin Zayed AI University
-
Tech boss’ dream private island on sale for £3m complete with fortress, helipad and...nightclub
-
The European in the Amazon as COP30 drives global climate decisions
-
The European takes its place at the table as G20 heads to Johannesburg
-
Specsavers to invest £5M in UK facility expansion to boost lens production
-
Abu Dhabi asserts leadership in regional property market as IREIS 2025 prepares to welcome 2,000 investors
-
Hulk Hogan: the world’s first athlete to become a global franchise
-
Pop star: Mumm sends champagne to space
-
Europeans are warming to EVs – and to Chinese brands
-
Sagrada Familia tops global rankings as Tripadvisor reveals world’s best travel experiences for 2025
-
Up, up and bouquet! Giant flower balloon lifts Medellin’s festival spirit
-
Europe and UK lag behind in global giving as low-income nations lead
-
Chinese carmaker GAC to launch electric cars in Britain
-
British firm Skyral to help Mongolia tackle pollution with AI traffic modelling
-
Seaweed and wind turbines: the unlikely climate double act making waves in the North Sea