New Space Tourism Operator Zephalto Reaches For The Stars In 2024

09.12.2023 - 14:41 / forbes.com / Richard Branson / Jeff Bezos

Over the last few years, space tourism has come to life, challenging the final frontier of travel. After years of testing, commercial outfits like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic have already delivered on their promise to take paying customers into the stratosphere, albeit with no little controversy surrounding their motives and ecological footprints.

In 2024, it seems a new operator will enter the mix, offering luxury flights into space for anyone with deep enough pockets. Founded by aerospace engineer Vincent Farret d’Astiès, French outfit Zephalto is pioneering a slower, more considered and less environmentally damaging way to take its customers on the journey of a lifetime—using a balloon taller than Notre-Dame.

Zephalto’s first balloon and pressurized capsule, named Céleste, aims to depart from France in late 2024 and carry six passengers to an altitude of 25 km (just over 15 miles) over the course of one and a half hours at an ascent rate of 13 feet per second. Spending three hours in the stratosphere, it will then descend for a total journey time of six hours. A significant part of the concept is that it will be accessible to all ages and physical conditions.

The aim is to give its passengers a view of Earth from a new perspective and see its spherical curve (known as the “Overview Effect”) while immersed in the darkness of space, beyond all light pollution.

The capsule, which Zephalto amusingly refers to as “the world’s smallest experience-led hotel”, was designed by the architect Joseph Dirand. Inside promises “a condensed version of French refinement in three spacious cabins” each soundproofed for privacy with a 75-square-foot wide-angle window offering a near-900 mile panorama. There’s even going to be Michelin-starred catering and fine wine tasting, should you get peckish during the flight (this is a French company, after all).

The Céleste’s eco credentials are not to be sniffed at, especially in comparison to the rocket fuel-guzzling, greenhouse gas-emitting rockets. Each flight will generate 26.6kg of carbon dioxide emissions per passenger, roughly equal to a 140-mile car journey. And with no heavy infrastructure needed for launch, the impact at ground level is also minimal, meaning Zephalto has big plans to open spaceports in some pretty amazing locations around the world.

Likely the biggest immediate concern surrounds flight safety. The technology behind the project comes from Zephalto’s partner, the CNES, the French national center for space studies, which has been sending balloons into the stratosphere for more than 60 years. The balloon will have EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certifications as a commercial airliner.

Founder and test pilot