SPACE PERSPECTIVE COMPLETES DEVELOPMENT FLIGHT 2

"EXPLORERS, WE HAVE LIFT OFF!"

Space Perspective’s Taber MacCallum, Founder and Co-CEO shares, "... belief in our mission has propelled us forward every step of the way. As we celebrate this achievement, we also recognize the unwavering commitment and support of our amazing Explorer community."

September 15, 2024 - Off the Coast of Florida - The flight on September 15 marks milestones in space tourism with first of their kind innovations in marine spaceport technology, spacecraft design, and flight safety. Space Perspective, the world's first carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company, has successfully completed a full flight profile of its uncrewed Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior, the fully-operational test vehicle of the spaceship that will take Explorers to space. The flight, which launched from Marine Spaceport (MS) Voyager off the coast of St. Petersburg, FL, is a demonstration of the industry-defining spacecraft Space Perspective has designed and built, and marks the next important benchmark on the way to crewed test flights.

Space Perspective's Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior capsule is lifted by the SpaceBalloon™ from the deck of MS Voyager, embarking on a historic test flight.Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior soars over the ocean, heralding a new era in sustainable space tourism.Space Perspective conducted a crucial wet dress rehearsal, testing the spacecraft's readiness aboard MS Voyager for its upcoming spaceflight.The intricate design and patented technology of Space Perspective's capsule, pictured on MS Voyager, set to revolutionize space travel.

Today, off the Gulf coast of Florida at sunrise,the Space Perspective completed capsule launched from MS Voyager, beginning its journey to the edge of space. Over the next few hours, Excelsior soared to an altitude of ~100,000 feet before making a smooth descent and splashdown, flawlessly executing its full flight profile. This mission showcased the innovation behind the design and technology built by our team, solidifying our position as pioneers at the forefront of space exploration.

"Completing Development Flight 2 is a defining moment for Space Perspective," said Taber MacCallum, Founder and CTO of Space Perspective. "I'm so proud of our devoted team who has worked relentlessly to execute this mission, drawing from their deep expertise and designing solutions for never-been-seen technologies. This uncrewed flight not only proves our pioneering technology but also brings us a giant leap closer to making space accessible for everyone and reaffirms our belief in the transformative power of space travel."

Here’s a glimpse of some of the remarkable achievements from this mission:

• Launch and Ascent: Utilizing Space Perspective’s patented launch system aboard MS Voyager, the flight employed a novel four-roller mechanism to raise the balloon, which has never been done before. This innovative approach establishes a new standard for marine spaceports, enabling year-round, global spaceflight operations.
• Spaceship Neptune Capsule: The spacecraft-maintained cabin pressure and stability at peak altitude, confirming the safety, design and performance of the largest spaceflight capsule ever flown, with the largest windows ever flown. This achievement represents a significant leap in spacecraft engineering.
• Thermal Management: The flight highlighted the spacecraft’s advanced thermal control system, effectively managing extreme temperature variations from the frigid upper atmosphere to intense solar heating, ensuring a comfortable environment inside the capsule for future Explorers.
• SpaceBalloon™ Performance: The flight demonstrated the successful use of hydrogen lift gas with the SpaceBalloon™ manufactured in house by Space Perspective, allowing the spacecraft to ascend to edge of space altitudes and descend safely, proving the viability of renewable lift gases.
• Mission Control and Retrieval: Managed from Mission Control, the flight validated proprietary software and communication systems. The retrieval process, involving a fast boat and crane, was executed seamlessly, facilitating a thorough post-flight inspection.

With this monumental flight behind us, the next steps in our mission are clearer than ever. Stay tuned for more details about this milestone and an exclusive look at some of the data collected from Development Flight 2 (DF02). This information will play a crucial role in paving the way for further uncrewed test flights and the start of a series of crewed test flights.

Jane Poynter, Founder of Space Perspective, added: "This flight successfully demonstrated the extraordinary accessibility of Spaceship Neptune's spaceflight experience with its gentle ascent, descent and splashdown, a critical step in opening space up to more people than ever before possible. Our advances in marine spaceport technology, spacecraft design, and flight safety are setting truly new standards for the future of space exploration."

The data collected from Development Flight 2 will be instrumental in refining Space Perspective's digital twin technology. This technology will aid engineers in analyzing spacecraft systems, including the capsule structure and thermal control, and guide the development of future spacecraft designs. Data gathered from this flight demonstration will pave the way for the development of crewed test flights.

About Space Perspective

Space Perspective, the world's first carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company, is on a mission to make space travel more accessible than ever before. Its innovative Spaceship Neptune, which comprises a pressurized capsule propelled by a giant SpaceBalloon™, offers a safe and transformative six-hour journey to the edge of space.

With no rockets, weightlessness, heavy g-forces, or training required, the experience is designed to be as gentle on Explorers as it is on the Earth. Those who fly with Space Perspective, which is being regulated by the FAA as well as the U.S. Coast Guard and follows guidelines established by NASA, enjoy a world-class meal and cocktail service, Wi-Fi, unprecedented views through the largest windows ever flown to space, and a proper restroom, which it calls the Space Spa – all from the comforts of the world's first Space Lounge.

Based on Florida's Space Coast, Space Perspective was founded by human spaceflight veterans Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, who met as original crew members in Biosphere 2. They went on to launch Paragon Space Development Corporation, which develops tech for environmental control systems that can be found on the International Space Station (ISS). Space Perspective's team more broadly has been instrumental in the development of every U.S. human spacecraft for the past 40 years. Check out our products page.

About Galactic Experiences by DePrez
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For More Information Please Contact:

CRAIG CURRAN , ASA
Galactic Experiences By DePrez, DePrez Travel Bureau, Inc.
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