March 22, 2024
Tourists and affluent Saudis can now travel to the edge of space in a classy capsule attached to an inflatable balloon, for an "out-of-this-world experience", Gulf News reported.
The Madrid based space tourism company, Halo has announced Saudi Arabia as its launch pad for their sixth test flight in June.
The company founded in 2021, will be taking travellers 32km above the surface of Earth on a stratospheric trip on a ticket price of $164,000.
The capsule capable of carrying eight passengers and one pilot features 360-degree panoramic windows allowing passengers to see the spectacular view.
According to Halo, the flight will be four to six hours long, with an hour or two at the highest altitude providing a clear view of the earth’s blue curvature.
Halo Space CEO Carlos Mira said, "The company aims to give a whopping 10,000 Earthlings a chance to explore and witness the stunning Overview Effect, aka viewing the blue halo around the curvature of the Earth."
In addition to Saudi Arabia, the United States, Australia, and Spain have also been selected by Halo as launch pads for their next test flights.
The company in a statement said, "Because the helium balloon-powered ascent is gradual, there is no heavy acceleration or G-forces, meaning nearly anyone can board a Halo flight without the need for special training."