The options for space travel are ballooning
The options for space travel are ballooning — literally.
Ticket prices for a space ride reservation on Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and Blue Origin currently start at $450,000 and skyrocket from there. You'll also need to meet requirements for training, size and fitness if you're lucky enough to score a seat for a future blastoff.
Space tourists, however, may soon have a somewhat less expensive, more accessible and far more comfortable way to reach the stratosphere: in a pressurized capsule carried 100,000 feet (almost 20 miles) above Earth by a giant, high-tech balloon.
Two companies are taking reservations now for flights scheduled to depart in 2024: Space Perspective and World View. Here's what to know:
Space Perspective
Florida Space Coast-based Space Perspective promises "an elegant ascent" in Spaceship Neptune. The ship is comprised of three parts: a "SpaceBalloon" that's as large as a football field and is powered by renewable hydrogen; a climate-controlled, pressurized capsule that can hold up to eight passengers plus a pilot; and a reserve descent system with four parachutes – just in case.
The planned six-hour round-trip journey will launch from the Kennedy Space Center. It will include a two-hour ascent at a leisurely 12 miles per hour, two hours floating in the capsule at 100,000 feet, and a gentle, two-hour descent to an ocean splashdown and a quick pickup by ship.
There are no individual weight limits or physical health requirements spelled out for Spaceship Neptune passengers. "If you are medically fit to board an airplane, then you are well-suited for this journey," the Space Perspective website says.
The views out of the capsule's almost 360-degree panoramic windows will certainly be out of this world, while the experience inside the capsule should be quite comfortable and first class.
The company recently released plans for the interior design of Spaceship Neptune's Space Lounge. The lounge will include arced, deep, reclining seats that can be reconfigured for a meal or a special event; customizable mood lighting; a bar top made with pellets formed from the same material as the space balloon; a telescope; and interactive screens. Floor lamps, a large windowed restroom, plants and herbs will be other lounge features. Additionally, the capsule will include Wi-Fi, so your trip to the stratosphere can be livestreamed.
Related: Hotel in outer space slated for 2025 opening
"The Space Lounge is designed to optimize the view, of course, with the 360-degree panoramic view," Jane Poynter, Founder, co-CEO and chief experience officer of Space Perspective told TPG via email, "but also [to foster] the social exchanges that everyone will have during the flight, and also with those left here on Earth."
Ready to go? Space Perspective tickets are currently priced at $125,000 per person, with a minimum $1,000 refundable deposit. (Crypto is accepted.) The first commercial flights are scheduled to take off in late 2024, but all 600 tickets for the first year of flights are already sold out. Reservations for 2025 and beyond are open.
World View
Tucson, Arizona-based World View is also taking reservations for rides into the stratosphere in a capsule carried by a balloon to 100,000 feet above the earth.
As described, the technology, launch and landing of the World View balloon flights seem generally the same as the Space Perspective plan (including an onboard lavatory), but with some key differences. The voyages will last longer (6-12 hours), the capsule will separate from the balloon on the descent and touchdowns will occur on land.
World View's capsule will hold eight passengers (age 18 and older) and two crew members. Service animals that meet the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation will be allowed to fly, too. No special training is required to fly. Again, there is no mandatory medical or physical exam.
"Generally, if you're healthy enough to fly on an airplane, you will meet the psychological and medical requirements for a World View flight," the company's website says.
Tickets for the World View voyages set to take off sometime in 2024 are $50,000 per seat (financing plans and monthly payment available) and require an initial deposit of $500. The company plans to have "spaceports" around the world, with the first slated to be in Arizona, near the Grand Canyon, and the other near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. World View plans to open additional spaceports in Kenya, Norway, Brazil, Egypt and China.
Will you be weightless?
Sorry, no. As World View's FAQs point out, these space balloon flights are under a controlled, very gentle ascent and descent. So there is no free fall of the capsule, which is what creates the conditions for weightlessness for travelers in other space travel experiences, such as the Space X, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin flights, and on the Zero-G airplane.
Related: Three businessmen dock at space station on private SpaceX charter flight
But that doesn't mean the experience won't be thrilling.
"At 10,000 feet you have a spectacular panoramic view of Earth's surface. And with this wide-angle view, you will clearly see the curvature of Earth and the 'thin blue line' of Earth's atmosphere," World View explains. "Also, because you will be higher than the thickest parts of the atmosphere, you will be enveloped in the darkness of space. Your horizon will stretch into the distance more than 1,000 miles in every direction."
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.