A space company has launched its new expeditions that will whisk you away in a balloon for the ultimate ‘glamping’ experience.
HALO Space is set to whisk tourists over 18 miles into the stratosphere with the first journey planned for 2026.
The five-hour excursion has been described as the space tourism equivalent of “glamping” – complete with “gourmet cuisine” before take-off and “maximum comfort every step of the day”.
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The design was led by Ferrari FXX designer Frank Stephenson and offers 360 views of constellations and planets.
There are two current HALO bases – one in Spain and the other in Saudi Arabia – with two more in the works.
The flights from Spain will give tourists an incredible view of the Gibraltar Strait and Africa, while the Saudi Arabia trip will offer once-in-a-lifetime views of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
The journey to the space location and back takes about five hours – less time than it takes to travel from New York to London.
On the day of departure, guests will get to enjoy sunrise in the stratosphere.
After lift-off, they will be able to move around the cabin and enjoy the views.
Tickets are believed to start around £106,000 (EUR 155,000) – much of which includes pre- and post-flight activities.
The company says it will offer “a curated selection of unique and enlightening experiences in science and culture” for customers to choose from.
According to HALO, once above 30km altitude, the curvature of the Earth with its blue halo will be visible, with the sight known as the ‘overview effect’.
Hopeful passengers can book a seat a year ahead of the planned launches in 2026.
The Spanish company hopes that once fully functional, they will carry 3,000 passengers on 400 trips every year, with their commercial flights being ‘zero emission.’
It promises “an experience that takes you to the stratosphere and beyond” – saying exploring beyond Earth “is not just for astronauts”.
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