Halo Space, the Spanish aerospace start-up, is accelerating its flight tests with a view to launching commercial services in 2026. The upcoming test flight, scheduled for June in Saudi Arabia, is especially notable because it will be the first time critical systems such as life support and air supply will be fully integrated into the capsule.
Halo Space flight tests
This initiative takes place in a context where Halo Space has already conducted five test flights using four different prototypes and plans to conduct the first manned test flight with the production version of the capsule in the United States between May and June next year. The company, which describes its business as “near-space” tourism, seeks to offer six-hour flights at an altitude of 35 km in the stratosphere, providing up to eight passengers and a pilot with spectacular views of the Earth.
The capsule, which has no propulsion system of its own and is lifted by a helium-filled balloon, is designed to be particularly light and efficient. Its trajectory during ascent and descent is influenced by weather conditions and it is the pilot’s task to monitor these aspects and control the descent, which is performed by releasing the balloon and using parachutes for a soft landing.
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The capsule structure, designed by Frank Stephenson, who has worked on the creation of some of the world’s most iconic automobiles, incorporates innovations such as an integrated toilet near the cabin for passenger comfort.
The project has not only attracted attention for its technical ambition, but also for its commitment to affordability, as it plans to offer these unique flights at an initial cost of $150,000 per ticket, considerably lower than suborbital flight proposals offered by other companies.
The vision of Halo Space of making near space accessible could have a significant impact not only on space tourism, but on the public perception of space travel. By providing a more affordable and potentially frequent alternative, they could democratize access to space, inspiring a new generation about the possibilities of space exploration and observing our planet from a unique perspective.
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