Test Flights May be Coming Soon for Space Perspective
Space Tourism Company Unveils Completed Test Capsule
The first images of the completed Space Perspective test capsule have been released. With its first SpaceBalloon finished and its launch vessel, Marine Spaceport Voyager, in its final stage of preparation, Space Perspective is beginning to eye its test flights window.
"We are on the cusp of a staggering shift – not only in the way we humans experience space, but also what we conjure in our minds when we think of the spaceship that gets us there."
MacCallum, Space Perspective
The test capsule, which is named Excelsior in honor of late balloon space-jump pioneer Joe Kittinger, is now the largest spaceflight capsule in existence and represents a significant milestone in U.S. entrepreneurship and the first commercial spacecraft designed, developed and manufactured without the backing of a billionaire or significant government funding.
Soon to be the largest human spacecraft in operation (excluding the space stations), Spaceship Neptune's spherical capsule is 16 feet (4.9 meters) in diameter, providing a pressurized volume of more than 2,000 cubic feet (60 cubic meters) – roughly two times the volume of Virgin Galactic's Spaceship Two and Blue Origin's New Shepard, and about four times that of SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
Entering the interior of the finished capsule for the first time just last week, capsule design lead, Dan Window, was overcome with emotion. "It's been over a decade of work with Jane (Poynter) and Taber (MacCallum)," Window said of his long-standing relationship and collaboration with Space Perspective's Founders and Co-CEOs. "I teared up. To see our designs become reality and to know that we will be taking people to space to have this life-changing experience in this beautiful capsule. It's a dream."
"The space capsule is like nothing the world has ever seen," said MacCallum, who is also Space Perspective's CTO, noting the capsule's massive windows, iconic design, and spacious interior. "We are on the cusp of a staggering shift – not only in the way we humans experience space, but also what we conjure in our minds when we think of the spaceship that gets us there. We are redefining the category and paving the way for accessible space travel for years to come."