Space Tourism Co. Furloughs Most Workers After Eviction Notice

The company is $90,000 behind in its rent payments.

Transcript

Space Perspective, a Titusville, Florida company founded in 2018, was developed with the objective of selling trips to the stratosphere.

And in a world of heavy investment in space exploration, it’s the method that’s unique: Space Perspective plans to use a craft called “Spaceship Neptune,” described as a crewed, pressurized gondola propelled by hydrogen.

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In the second half of 2024, the firm appeared to be on a positive trajectory. In September, the company completed its first uncrewed test. Funding from British billionaire and space enthusiast Richard Branson was revealed in October – as well as the fact that he would co-pilot the first crewed mission in 2025.

But the viability of that crewed mission is being questioned after recent reports revealed some problems behind the scenes at Space Perspective. For one, it was uncovered that the company was $90,000 behind in its rent payments to the Space Coast Regional Airport in Florida, as of December.

More recently, the outlook has become even more dire – on January 17th, the company reportedly received an eviction notice.

Meanwhile, CEO Michael Savage has confirmed that Space Perspective has furloughed most of its 140 workers as it seeks new investors due to financial issues.

Savage stressed to Florida Today that the firm was not shut down, adding “There is a skeleton team continuing to work, with the goal to bring back the broader team the minute we have financing.”

So where did the money go? Longer than expected timelines have eaten up capital, according to Bloomberg, as well as costs related to buying and retrofitting the MS Voyager, a ship developed for the launch and recovery of the balloon.

Space Perspective hopes to begin offering six hour balloon rides in 2026 at a price of $125,000 per ticket. The company says each flight has room for 8 passengers and a pilot, and will offer a restroom, WiFi and food and drinks.

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