Saudi Arabia plans test balloon flight for space tourism

Spanish start-up aims for emission-free travel - if regulators are satisfied

Life

Image: Halo Space

A prototype space balloon designed for tourist flights into the stratosphere will be tested in Saudi Arabia in September. The test marks an important step toward commercial space tourism, with Spanish start-up Halo Space aiming for emission-free travel to altitudes of up to 35km.

Before commercial flights can be conducted, Halo Space must demonstrate the balloon’s safety. The upcoming test in Saudi Arabia, supported by the country’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), is designed to validate critical systems. This mission is designed to accurately validate all of our critical systems that we have developed over the past three years,” said Alberto Castrillo, chief technology officer of Halo Space.

During the test flight, the prototype capsule, called Aurora, will ascend to 30km above the Earth’s surface. During the flight, the company will assess the performance of the technology.

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a crucial partner for Halo Space, providing significant support to the industry as part of its ambition to become a world leader in space exploration. Frank Salzgeber, acting deputy governor for the space sector at CST, said: “In addition to its regulatory mandate, CST also plays an enabling role within the civilian space sector. This innovative project represents an important step forward in space tourism and supports technological advances and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Arabia has already made significant strides in space exploration. Earlier this year, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, launched the Neo Space Group to work on the kingdom’s satellite and space industry, its first investment in the sector.

Halo Space aims to launch crewed flights in 2025, followed by commercial flights in 2026. By 2030, the company wants to make space tourism more accessible and is targeting 10,000 passengers from the launch of commercial flights until the end of the decade.

Read More: space space exploration