Space Perspective, a Titusville, Florida company founded in 2018, was developed with the objective of selling trips to the stratosphere.
And in a world of heavy investment in space exploration, it’s the method that’s unique: Space Perspective plans to use a craft called “Spaceship Neptune,” described as a crewed, pressurized gondola propelled by hydrogen.
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In the second half of 2024, the firm appeared to be on a positive trajectory. In September, the company completed its first uncrewed test. Funding from British billionaire and space enthusiast Richard Branson was revealed in October – as well as the fact that he would co-pilot the first crewed mission in 2025.
But the viability of that crewed mission is being questioned after recent reports revealed some problems behind the scenes at Space Perspective. For one, it was uncovered that the company was $90,000 behind in its rent payments to the Space Coast Regional Airport in Florida, as of December.
More recently, the outlook has become even more dire – on January 17th, the company reportedly received an eviction notice.
Meanwhile, CEO Michael Savage has confirmed that Space Perspective has furloughed most of its 140 workers as it seeks new investors due to financial issues.
Savage stressed to Florida Today that the firm was not shut down, adding “There is a skeleton team continuing to work, with the goal to bring back the broader team the minute we have financing.”
So where did the money go? Longer than expected timelines have eaten up capital, according to Bloomberg, as well as costs related to buying and retrofitting the MS Voyager, a ship developed for the launch and recovery of the balloon.
Space Perspective hopes to begin offering six hour balloon rides in 2026 at a price of $125,000 per ticket. The company says each flight has room for 8 passengers and a pilot, and will offer a restroom, WiFi and food and drinks.
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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
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Space Perspective, a Titusville, Florida
company founded in 2018,
00:04.360 --> 00:07.869
was developed with the objective of selling
trips to the stratosphere.
00:08.000 --> 00:12.989
And in a world of heavy investment in space
exploration, it's the method that's unique.
00:13.199 --> 00:17.149
Space Perspective plans to use a craft called
Spaceship Neptune,
00:17.399 --> 00:18.829
described as a crude press.
00:19.360 --> 00:23.120
Gondola propelled by hydrogen.
In the second half of 2024,
00:23.159 --> 00:26.479
the firm appeared to be on a positive
trajectory.
00:26.680 --> 00:29.750
In September, the company completed its first
uncrude test.
00:30.040 --> 00:34.119
Funding from British billionaire and space
enthusiast Richard Branson was revealed in
00:34.119 --> 00:38.110
October, as well as the fact that he would
co-pilot the first crude mission.
00:38.369 --> 00:43.439
In 2025, but the viability of that crude
mission is being questioned after recent
00:43.439 --> 00:46.470
reports revealed some problems behind the
scenes at Space Perspective.
00:46.680 --> 00:52.159
For one, it was uncovered that the company was
$90,000 behind in its rent payments to the
00:52.159 --> 00:55.470
Space Coast Regional Airport in Florida as of
December.
00:55.599 --> 00:58.630
More recently, the outlook has become even more
dire.
00:58.880 --> 01:02.909
On January 17th, the company reportedly
received an eviction notice.
01:03.119 --> 01:07.819
Meanwhile, CEO Michael Savage has confirmed
that Space Perspective has furloughed most of
01:07.819 --> 01:12.919
its 140 workers as it seeks new investors due
to financial issues.
01:13.040 --> 01:16.709
Savage stressed to Florida today that the firm
was not shut down,
01:17.000 --> 01:21.919
adding, there is a skeleton team continuing to
work with the goal to bring back the broader
01:21.919 --> 01:24.190
team the minute we have financing.
01:24.440 --> 01:25.910
So where did the money go?
01:26.199 --> 01:29.959
Longer than expected timelines have eaten up
capital, according to Bloomberg.
01:30.209 --> 01:34.029
As well as costs related to buying and
retrofitting the MS Voyager,
01:34.239 --> 01:37.150
a ship developed for the launch and recovery of
the balloon.
01:37.360 --> 01:43.400
Space Perspective hopes to begin offering 6
hour balloon rides in 2026 at a price of
01:43.400 --> 01:45.949
$125,000 per ticket.
01:46.199 --> 01:51.120
The company says each flight has room for eight
passengers and a pilot and will offer a
01:51.120 --> 01:54.069
restroom, Wi Fi, and food and drinks.
01:54.319 --> 01:55.959
I'mman Wells, and this is manufacturing now.