Space tourism has never looked so stylish. French startup Zephalto has partnered with the French space agency Center national d’étudesuzaysales (CNES) to begin offering elegant high-altitude balloon flights in the stratosphere. Lifted by a massive balloon filled with hydrogen or helium, Zephalto’s pressurized capsule will rise up to 15.5 miles (25 kilometers) into Earth’s atmosphere to give passengers a unique view of the world around them.

Flights are scheduled to begin in 2025, according to a Bloomberg report, and the company’s website is already accepting reservations for a $11,000 (€120,000) deposit. The Zephalto balloon holds six passengers and two pilots and is launched from a French spaceport. The company hopes to expand its reach worldwide and marks every inhabited continent on Zephalto’s global map of spaceports.

But Zephalto hopes to stand out from the competition by offering near-space enthusiasts the luxury of fine French cuisine as part of their journey. In addition to the VIP amenities that accompany the ticket price of more than $100,000, Zephalto plans to offer a Michelin-starred restaurant with a view of space from the window. Plus, the vehicle will have Wi-Fi so you can send your space photos before returning to Earth!

The interior of the capsule was created by French designer Joseph Diran, who hoped his minimalist approach would allow passengers to focus their attention on the windows rather than their immediate surroundings. “I hope our guests return to Earth with new perspectives on our precious planet, its beauty, and how best to protect it,” he told Bloomberg.

The flight itself will take a total of six hours, with an hour and a half for the climb, three hours for wine, food and sightseeing, and an hour and a half for the descent. “We choose an altitude of 25 kilometers because that is the altitude at which you are in the darkness of space where 98% of the atmosphere is below you, so you can enjoy the curvature of the Earth on the blue line. You are in the darkness of space. , but without zero gravity experience,” said Vincent Farre d’Asties, aeronautical engineer and founder of Zephalto.

So far, the company has conducted three manned test flights with its stratospheric balloon, but none of them reach as high as regular passengers. First of all, the company needs to get EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certification as a commercial aircraft. After launch, Zephalto plans to operate up to 60 flights per year.

The concept is similar to that of other companies, such as Florida-based Space Perspective, which promises ticket holders tranquil flights above the clouds with views of Earth previously seen only by astronauts.

Space Perspective’s Neptune One was designed to land on the sea, unlike the Zephalto, which landed on solid ground. Neptune One will also fly 19 miles (30.5 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface and 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) higher than the Zephalto balloon. However, no ship can take you as far as the Carman Line, the technical limit stretching exactly 62 miles (100 kilometers).