Space Perspective to send tourists into the stratosphere from ship's deck


Hayley Skirka
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Thrill-seeking travellers keen for an out-of-this-world adventure will now be able to journey into the stratosphere from the deck of a 90-metre ship.

Florida company Space Perspective has unveiled MS Voyager, the world’s first floating spaceport, as part of a fleet it plans to launch globally.

The bio-fuel-powered balloon-like vessel will have its home port in Florida, but will be able to navigate to other destinations prone to good weather conditions, allowing the company to operate year-round launches for travellers hoping to embark on a voyage into the stratosphere.

Other marine spaceports will dock at different destinations around the globe and complement Space Perspective's on-land launches in Florida. .

An at-sea launch pad creates more flexible conditions for lift-off, according to the company, which plans to send the balloons into space at different times of the day, including at sunrise and sunset for stargazing experiences.

Space Perspective opened ticket sales for flights last year.

The balloon-like Spaceship Neptune vessel, which will offer panoramic views of the planet. Photo: Space Perspective
The balloon-like Spaceship Neptune vessel, which will offer panoramic views of the planet. Photo: Space Perspective

A ticket for the six-hour journey in the Spaceship Neptune capsule, which will offer explorers individual reclining seats and 360-degree panoramic views of the planet, starts at $125,000.

More than 1,000 tickets have already been sold for the journey, which will take passengers about 100,000 feet above Earth when it takes flight in 2024.

“Space Perspective will change your relationship with our planet by providing the quintessential astronaut experience of viewing Earth from the blackness of space,” said Jane Poynter, Space Perspective’s founder and co-chief executive.

“It’s imperative for us to think about our business with a global mindset. Removing geographic borders for launch and landing accelerates our mission of making this transformative experience more accessible to the world and international marketplace — safely, reliably and with minimal impact on our planet.”

MS Voyager is currently being fitted out for the journey at a Louisiana shipyard. It should be complete by the end of this year, and test journeys will begin in the new year.

It's named Voyager as a tribute to the Voyager 1 space probe mission, which, on astronomer Carl Sagan’s request, took a photo of Earth from across the solar system on February 14, 1990.

Travellers returning to Earth will splash safely into the ocean where boats will stabilise the capsules. Photo: AdStock / Universal Images Group
Travellers returning to Earth will splash safely into the ocean where boats will stabilise the capsules. Photo: AdStock / Universal Images Group

The image, known as the Pale Blue Dot, inspired Sagan to call for humans to “preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known” — words that Space Perspective says fuels its mission today.

When travellers return to Earth, they will splash safely into the ocean where boats will stabilise the capsules before lifting them on to MS Voyager, or one of its sister marine spaceports, via a custom-built structure.

A $1,000 deposit will secure a ticket on flights set to take off in 2024. Travellers can also reserve an entire capsule to bring along a group of up to eight friends.

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The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

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How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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While you're here
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

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Price: From Dh590,000

If you go

The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. 
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.   

Plan to boost public schools

A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.

It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.

Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.

Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.

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Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?

Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.

They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.

“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.

He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.

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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Kerb weight: 1580kg

Price: From Dh750k

On sale: via special order

Updated: November 17, 2022, 5:09 AM