Accept the updated privacy & cookie policy

The Indiatimes.com Privacy Policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.

Fancy A Lunch At The Edge Of Space? In 2025, This French Startup Can Take You There For Rs 1 Cr

While NASA, ISRO and Elon Musk¡¯s SpaceX are busy making efforts in the race to space, a French startup has just heated it up even more. France¡¯s Zephalto is offering passengers the chance to travel to the stratosphere in a balloon, starting at $132,000 (about ?1 crore) per person in the year 2025.
Vanya Gautam Updated on May 08, 2023, 12:00 IST

While NASA, ISRO and Elon Musk¡¯s SpaceX are busy making efforts in the race to space, a French startup has just heated up the competition even more. France¡¯s Zephalto is offering passengers the chance to travel?to the stratosphere in a balloon?and have a fancy lunch there, starting at $132,000 (about Rs 1 crore) per person from 2025.?

And, no, you neither have to be an astronaut nor require training for this.

¡°I partnered with the French space agency, and we worked on the concept of the balloon together,¡± says Zephalto founder and aerospace engineer Vincent Farret d¡¯Asti¨¨s.

60 Flights Each Year Starting 2025

Zephalto

The French startup's founder is planning on 60 flights a year, with just six passengers on board each flight. The company aims to provide an experience that brings the best bits of French hospitality¡ªfine food, wine and design¡ªto the edge of space for those who can afford the six-figure ticket.

Balloons filled with helium or hydrogen will depart from France with two pilots on board and rise 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) into the stratosphere for 1 1/2 hours. Once at peak altitude, which is about three times higher than for a commercial airliner, the balloon will stay for three hours, giving guests a chance to take in views previously seen only by astronauts. The descent will take a further hour and a half, for a six-hour round trip, as per a?Bloomberg report.

¡°We choose 25 kilometres high because it¡¯s the altitude where you are in the darkness of space, with 98% of the atmosphere below you, so you can enjoy the curvature of the Earth in the blue line. You¡¯re in the darkness of space, but without the zero gravity experience,¡± says the French startup's founder.

NASA reportedly says outer space officially begins 50 miles (or 80.46 km) above Earth. Other international bodies put it at 62 miles (99.77 km) at what¡¯s known as the K¨¢rm¨¢n Line.?

Also Read:?How Hyderabad-based Startup Skyroot Is Aiming To Become India's?SpaceX

More Details About The Space Experience

Joseph Dirand, a French designer of Balmain and Givenchy stores in Paris as well as such chic restaurants as Loulou and Monsieur Bleu, has been tapped to create the interiors. Dirand is known for his minimalist design style, which won¡¯t distract passengers from the most important thing: views of Earth.

cie.spacefoundation.org

¡°Design is about shaping experiences, and this experience will shape people¡¯s lives,¡± says Dirand. ¡°I hope that our guests will return to Earth with new perspectives towards our precious planet, its beauty and how to protect it better.¡±?

The onboard experience at the edge of space will reportedly be tailored for individual customers, with particular attention paid to food. Zephalto is striving to offer Michelin-star quality cuisine to guests, though the company declined to name any potential chef-partners. And while Farret d¡¯Asti¨¨s wants people to savour the experience and focus on the moment, wi-fi will also be available so they can show the experience to friends and family back on Earth.?

Zephalto will land on the ground not in the sea, and the company highlights its luxury design. Compared to rockets, space balloon options are for much more serene, less risky tourism, and anyone can go without prior training; if you¡¯re fit to travel on a commercial airline, you¡¯re fit to fly on this space balloon.

Balloons capable of reaching the stratosphere have been used by scientists and weather researchers since the 1930s. The crewed tourism aspect is innovation. CNES (Centre national d¡¯¨¦tudes spatiales, France¡¯s space agency) has been sending balloons up for more than 60 years.

Also Read:?India's?Space?Economy To Be?Worth?Nearly $13 Billion By 2025

Option To Speak With Psychologist Before The Flight

The fare will also include an option to speak with a psychologist before the flight, as seeing Earth from above can be challenging, says the French startup's founder.

¡°You need psychological preparation. We know from the 600 people who have gone above this altitude that seeing Earth in the darkness is an experience that can be emotional,¡± he explains, citing the overview effect. The well-documented phenomenon of seeing the Earth from space can have a powerful effect on perspective.?

Star Trek¡¯s William Shatner, who travelled with Blue Origin in October 2021, had reportedly said that looking down at Earth gave him the strongest feelings of grief he¡¯d ever experienced.?

indiatimes

Hopeful Of A Successful Test Flight This Year

Three test flights have been carried out by Zephalto with pilots on board, but none has yet reached the full altitude of 25 kilometres. The startup's founder says a flight later this year should accomplish this.

He is confident that it will succeed because the French space agency has long worked with high-altitude balloons. When all tests are passed, the balloon will earn EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certification as a commercial airliner.?

While certification will allow the balloons to land anywhere in Europe, the initial flights will take off and land on French soil.?It¡¯s a long-held dream of Zephalto¡¯s founder, who says his family history is tied to balloon flight. His great-great-great-grandfather escaped Paris on a balloon in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. Unlike his ancestor, though, Farret d¡¯Asti¨¨s intends to get a little closer to the stars.

Also Read:?Lamborghini 'Out Of The World'?Space-themed NFTs

Not The Only Startup In The Space?Balloon?Game

French startup Zephalto is a new European entrant in the commercial space race, but it¡¯s not the only one in the space balloon game. Florida-based?Space Perspectives?is offering voyages aboard its?Neptune One?vessel, going a little higher (19 miles) for a little less money: $125,000. Flights will begin in 2024.?

Using rockets, and offering an option to experience weightlessness, both?Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc.?and?Blue Origin LLC?have launched civilian space flights that saw?Richard Branson?and?Jeff Bezos?suit up alongside space tourists for the flights. Blue Origin is?aiming to restart its voyages?by the end of this year since an unmanned rocket crashed in 2022.

For more such interesting content and the latest financial news,?keep reading Worth.?Click here.

ad
seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
mfhoudan.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
jerusalemdispatch.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
worldhealthstory.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
techguroh.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com