Space Perspective, a space tourism company based in Titusville, announced Thursday that billionaire adventurer Sir Richard Branson will co-pilot its first crewed space balloon launch.

This highly anticipated flight, set for next year, highlights a key moment in the company’s quest to provide a unique view of Earth from the edge of space.

In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Space Perspective shared: “Space Perspective is excited to announce that @richardbranson will co-pilot Space Perspective’s first crewed test flight next year, alongside Founder, Jane Poynter and Founder and CTO, Taber MacCallum.”

This announcement follows Space Perspective’s successful Neptune capsule test flights, including its second uncrewed mission. The Neptune capsule is designed to be fastened to a massive balloon, allowing tourists to experience space-like views from 100,000 feet above Earth.

Space Perspective Reaches New Heights with Successful Uncrewed Flight

Passengers will spend approximately two hours at this altitude before beginning their descent, culminating in a splashdown recovery by the Marine Spaceport Voyager.

To learn more about Space Perspective, check out all of our articles on Talk of Titusville.

Branson’s Role and Investment in Space Perspective
At 74 years old, Branson is no stranger to space ventures. He founded Virgin Galactic in 2004 and has since been a leading voice in commercial space travel. Now, his role at Space Perspective goes beyond co-piloting—the billionaire has also invested in the company.

“Branson has also, along with other investors, made an investment in Space Perspective, which will help to accelerate our development and test flight program, confirming our leadership position in sustainable, stratospheric balloon travel,” the company stated.

What to Expect from Space Perspective Flights
Each flight with Space Perspective lasts six to seven hours, offering passengers the chance to see the curvature of Earth and witness space-like views from the stratosphere. These eco-friendly flights stand apart from traditional rocket-powered space missions by significantly reducing environmental impact.

Space Perspective’s first crewed mission, with Branson in the co-pilot’s seat, is poised to capture global attention as the company pushes the boundaries of sustainable space tourism, right from its home base in Titusville.

For continuous updates on Space Perspective and other local space news, visit Talk of Titusville’s Space Section.