Zephalto, the global leader in luxury consumer space travel driven by French design and ‘art de vivre’, will be the first European-based consumer flight taking place at the end of 2024, climbing up to 25 km in one hour and a half, where the sunrise will be seen past the stratosphere. The flight will depart from France and will take six hours in total, with three hours at its highest altitude. It began as a concept, a dream, and now this fantasy of floating with the stars has become a reality. What’s more is that each traveller will receive a tailor-made experience, including Michelin-starred cuisine upon request.
Realising dreams and breaking boundaries, Zephalto is taking the travel industry into its next chapter, by offering life-changing journeys to the stars, 25 km from the Earth inside Céleste, the pressurised capsule lifted by a stratospheric balloon. Zephalto’s vision is to offer guests a chance to view the earth from a new perspective and witness its spherical curve (the “Overview Effect”), in the darkness of space but in the comfort of quality hospitality and safety, accessible to all ages and physical conditions. The name “Zephalto” derives from “zephyr”, the personification of the west wind in Greek mythology and ‘alto’, meaning “to raise, to lift” in Latin.
Vincent Farret d’Astiès, Zephalto founder and test pilot, 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. Our expert team has been working very hard to create a vessel that the Montgolfier brothers would have been proud of. 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.”
Designed by Joseph Dirand Architecture, the smallest experience-led ‘hotel’ ’in the world will have the most powerful story to tell. Guests aboard Céleste will witness a breathtaking panorama of the Earth, the Sun and the stars only ever appreciated before by astronauts. Beyond all light pollution, they will witness the ever-evolving and infinite landscape of space by means of low carbon and ecological technology – unlike the potent greenhouse gases created by rockets.
“Architecture has a function,” notes designer Joseph Dirand, adding “and this, paired with my profound passion for hospitality, has provoked an inspiration for this innovative and groundbreaking project. Design is about shaping experiences, and this experience will shape people’s lives. I am thrilled to be working on this project and hope that our guests will return to Earth with new perspectives towards our precious planet, its beauty, and how to protect it better”.
Safety is a key priority at Zephalto, and the technology is based on Zephalto’s historical partner, the CNES, which has been sending balloons into the stratosphere for over 60 years. All aviation safety standards are applied: the balloon will have EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certifications as a commercial airliner.
Zephalto will launch its pre-reservation in the coming months, with an overall ticket price at €120,000 per person. The pre-sale link is now live at book.zephalto.com.
