Bringing a new meaning to the term Michelin star dining, a French startup will next year offer diners the chance to enjoy one of the finest culinary experiences — at the edge of space.
Zephalto will treat its passengers to a view of the stars as they enjoy a meal on board a huge balloon which will take off from France and travel to an altitude of 15.5 miles (25 km) during a six-hour round trip.
The space tourism company had been planning to launch its first flight in 2025, but has now brought this forward to the end of 2024.
If you think Michelin dining is expensive, however, it’s nothing compared to how much this balloon ride will set you back.
That’s because pre-sale tickets will soon be launched for an eye-watering £105,000 (€120,000) per person — about 100 times as pricey as the most expensive Michelin star restaurant on Earth.
Wow: Bringing a new meaning to the term Michelin star dining, a French startup will next year offer diners the chance to enjoy one of the finest culinary experiences — at the edge of space
Out of this world: Zephalto will treat its passengers to a view of the stars as they enjoy a meal on board a huge balloon which will take off from France and travel to an altitude of 15.5 miles (25 km) during a six-hour round trip
But what you’ll get for your money is a breathtaking view of the Earth, sun and the stars that has previously only been reserved for astronauts.
The balloon’s capsule, which has a large panoramic window and can carry six passengers and two pilots, will ascend at a speed of 4m/s and take an hour-and-a-half to reach its peak altitude.
Once there, passengers will enjoy three hours at the edge of space — above 98 per cent of the atmosphere and twice as high as the average commercial jet.
They will also get a luxury culinary experience, with meals cooked by famous French chefs and wine that is selected by a renowned sommelier.
Not only that, but the luxurious journey aboard the Céleste stratospheric balloon can even be accompanied by music of the passenger’s choice, or they can choose ‘space silence’.
There is no age limit or special training required to board the balloon flight — as long as a person is fit to fly on an airplane they can travel on the Céleste.
The only thing some space fans might find it lacking is the chance to experience zero gravity.
Unlike flights in Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket New Shepard, which takes passengers more than 60 miles (100 km) above the Earth’s surface, gravity is not lost on the Céleste.
Zephalto’s founder and balloon test pilot, Vincent Farret d’Astiès, said: ‘I am thrilled to have built the bridge between my dream of space travel and reality. He is pictured right with the balloon’s designer Joseph Dirand
The balloon’s capsule, which has a large panoramic window and can carry six passengers and two pilots, will ascend at a speed of 4m/s and take an hour-and-a-half to reach its peak altitude
Zephalto plans to run 60 flights a year and markets itself as a less-impactful way to see the Earth from above.
Fears have been raised that some space tourism ventures, including Bezos’ Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic’s Sir Richard Branson, could have a bigger impact on global warming than the aviation industry.
In response to this, Zephalto says it offers the least-polluting way of reaching the stratosphere, using a balloon filled with helium and hydrogen rather than ‘the potent greenhouse gases created by rockets’.
Zephalto’s founder and balloon test pilot, Vincent Farret d’Astiès, said: ‘I am thrilled to have built the bridge between my dream of space travel and reality.
‘Those who share my desire to travel in harmony with the elements and the wind, can finally do so onboard Céleste.
‘After years of working on the approach, design and technical solutions, the concept is now palpable and will offer an extraordinarily immersive experience that will stage our Earth and space to the most affluent of travellers.’
Zephalto is not the only company hoping to offer such ventures.
Its rival Space Perspective, an American company, is also planning to begin balloon journeys from next year.