Will This Balloon Really Take You to a Galaxy Far, Far Away?

A Florida-based company called Space Perspective in Cape Canaveral is offering Sci-Fi thrill seekers the chance to ride to outer space in an oversized balloon in 2021.

Take off would occur at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and 9 passengers including a pilot would enter a capsule after which time a balloon with a diameter of a "football stadium-length" would lift the capsule up to an altitude of 100,000 feet. This is above 99% of Earth's atmosphere, where the curvature of the planet and the blackness of outer space are clearly visible.

Passengers would cruise two hours in this space and then there would be an additional two hours to descend back to earth. To return, a gradual release from the balloon would occur. The six hour experience would culminate with both the capsule and the balloon splashing down in the ocean, where a ship would be waiting to pick up all passengers.

While enjoying galactic views, passengers onboard would be able to have refreshments.

While it is still unclear what the exact costs are to take this trip, it is estimated it will be around about half the price of existing sub-orbital flights, which cost around US$125,000 per passenger.