HALO Space has unveiled the interiors to its luxury space balloon that is set to begin flights in 2026.
The stratospheric balloon, which aims to capitalise on a budding class of prospective space tourists, boasts a sleek, lightweight design – for those who can afford it.
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Carlos Mira, CEO of Halo, told The Sun: “First what we’re offering is a great visual experience: the view of our planet above the atmosphere, you see the curvature of the planet, you see the blue halo and you see the darkness and deepness of space.
“This is not, from an engineering perceive, a dream.
“It is a reality, as we have already performed five successful test flights.
“We have already testing all the critical systems for the flight and it’s a big milestone for not only Halo Space but also for the industry.
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“It is not wishful thinking that we want to do it. We have already done it.”
Customers at a certain level expect a certain amount of luxury for such an experience… It’s not a typical experience for the average person.
Frank Stephenson, designer
The design was spearheaded by Frank Stephenson, the man behind the Ferrari FXX.
Inspiration was pulled from high-performance vehicles “where weight is the enemy,” Stephenson explained, which is why he has employed aluminum alloy for the structure.
“Customers at a certain level expect a certain amount of luxury for such an experience,” he says.
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“It’s not a typical experience for the average person.”
And for that, the design must provide enough amenities, comfort and entertainment to customers that don’t feel like they’re “missing out”, according to Frank.
And that’s a tricky feat for such a small amount of space.
Weighing 3,500kg, the capsule – nicknamed Aurora – will be just five meters wide, 3.5 meters tall and host eight passengers and one pilot.
The balloon will feature virtual reality (VR) enhanced windows, that can show passengers where they are flying above, as well as star constellations.
It won’t be your typical plane food, either.
While not exactly three-star Michelin dining, the flight will include a high-class restaurant-style culinary experience with a 360 view of a lifetime.
The food will also be inspired by the local cuisine of where passengers will be based prior to the eight or nine hour flight.
While Aurora is well-tested, the spacecraft will soon have to metaphorically sharpen its elbows against competition.
There are plenty of other stratospheric balloon companies, all vying for their fair share of the near-space tourism market.
But other balloons, and their respective designs, are apparently too “exaggerated” in what they say they can offer customers 40km in the sky, Stephenson claims.
“What’s unique about ours, is our design is very realistic,” he says.
“When it comes down to the nitty gritty, you have to have one foot in reality.
“A lot of the competition that we’re seeing at the moment… are kind of exaggerating the experience from an interior point of views – in terms of the comfort levels you’ll be experiencing.
“They’re not really based in reality, they’re artist imagery of the experience.”
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Base camp
Halo Space currently has two planned launch sites in Spain and Saudi Arabia – which Mira says will secure the best views for his high-flying customers.
“It’s a very practical decision, in the sense of the requirements for these kinds of stratospheric balloon flights,” he explained.
“This perspective is spoiled when you have clouds below.
“We need to fly – for our customers to have the best experience – when there are no clouds.”
In the winter months, where there are perhaps just a handful of days without cloud cover, “We cannot tell our customers to wait for the clear sky day,” he says.
In Spain, Halo can assure customers that there will be little to no clouds between June and September.
“So for the rest of the year, in Saudi Arabia, the flight window for us opens in October and closes in April,” says Mira.
“During this eight month period we have clear skies.”
It means Halo can offer cloud-free flights all year round – with a variety of birds-eye views of Earth.
Flights from Spain will give passengers an unparalleled look as the Gibraltar Strait, as well as the continent of Africa.
While launches from Saudi Arabia will offer views of the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and striking mountain lines.
Halo is also in talks to open other launch sites in Australia and in a not-yet-named southern state of the US.
Earth’s high-flyers will be able to book a seat on a Halo Space balloon between 12 to 15 months before launches in 2026.
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Mira says this could be either the end of this year or the beginning of 2025.
The current price tag on tickets is €155,000, or $164,000.
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