a French company is developing commercial flights aboard stratospheric balloons

At the rate of four meters per second, the Zephalto balloon takes off. He travels to the border between the Earth and the void of space, with tourists on board. This trip was imagined by Vincent Farret d’Astiès, founder of Zephalto. “It was born a bit from a dream, to go, like on a sailboat, towards the stars”, he explains. “Our travelers will see the curvature of the Earth, plunged into the darkness of space, see the stars, see the sunrise”, he adds. The company, based in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) was able to recreate the extreme conditions that the balloon will encounter at 25,000 meters above sea level.

120,000 euros per flight

Flights have already taken place at low altitude, and commercial flights will see the light of day at the end of 2024. Other French companies are developing their stratospheric balloons. For the CNES, partner of the project, this represents a godsend for research. To take place in a Zephalto basket, it takes 120,000 euros.