The Space Perspective company announced the completion of construction of its “sea spaceport”, which is designed to launch stratospheric balloons carrying tourists to the border of the earth’s atmosphere. The ship was named Voyager, and its construction lasted about two years. The company said this is the first spaceport in history to be located on open water off the coast of Florida.
Image source: Space Perspective
Voyager’s massive 90-meter-long spacecraft is equipped to launch and retrieve Neptune capsules, which are pressurized modules that house crews on six-hour flights to the edges of outer space. “The ability to launch and recover the Neptune capsule at sea provides global scalability as well as unprecedented security for routine operations. We are proud to bring new spaceflight opportunities to Port Canaveral and the Space Coast,” Space Perspective said in a press release.
The Voyager’s launch system includes a launch preparation mechanism that allows the balloons to be brought upright on the 61-meter deck. This approach simplifies the process of launching a stratospheric balloon compared to the traditional one, when it is necessary to use a much longer deck. The company also claims that the vessel has increased maneuverability, which is provided by four generators and four engines. Additional equipment for servicing Neptune capsules is also located here.
After completing its journey, the Neptune capsule will splash down in a manner similar to the SpaceX Dragon capsules. When the capsule lands, several small boats with a Space Creative team will head towards it in order to secure Neptune to the 16-meter lifting mechanism located on the ship. With its help, the capsule will be delivered on board Voyager, after which passengers will be able to leave it. Space Perspective claims to be the world’s first zero-carbon company providing services to transport tourists to the edge of space.