Spaceship Neptune
A pressurized passenger capsule meant to rise slowly under a huge balloon to about 100,000 feet for a view of Earth's curve, at $125,000 a seat. Work stalled when the company ran short of cash in 2025.
Why it matters
It promised a gentle, rocket-free way for ordinary passengers to see Earth from very high altitude. Whether the new owner EOS X Space revives it is open.
How the technology works
A large balloon lifts the capsule at a few miles an hour into the stratosphere. The first capsule, Excelsior, flew uncrewed to about 100,000 feet in September 2024 after lifting off from the ship MS Voyager.
Sources
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction