Startups are building balloons to hoist tourists 100,000 feet into the stratosphere

Industry Overview - Commercial space flight is increasingly common, with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic transporting paid customers into space in recent years [1] Emerging Companies - Three startups, Zephalto, Space Perspective, and World View, are developing stratospheric tourism using pressurized capsules and gas-filled balloons [2] Technical Details - World View's capsule is designed to carry eight customers and two crew members, featuring a center bar and a bathroom, with rides lasting around 6 hours and reaching altitudes of 15 to 19 miles [3] - Space Perspective's operations are regulated as a spaceship, with a threshold of 98,000 feet marking the transition to space, while passengers will not experience weightlessness during the balloon ride [4] Market Demand - All three companies report strong consumer interest, with World View selling 1,250 tickets and Space Perspective selling 1,800 tickets, while Zephalto's initial flights are fully booked [5] Pricing Structure - Ticket prices vary, with World View at $50,000, Space Perspective at $125,000, and Zephalto at approximately $184,000, contingent on the successful launch of commercial services [6]