Richard Branson is set to co-pilot the world’s first crewed space balloon flight to the edge of Earth.

Date: October 18, Location: Florida : Billionaire entrepreneur and Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, who made history nearly 40 years ago by becoming the first person to cross the Atlantic in a hot air balloon, is preparing for another flight. This time, he will co-pilot the world's first crewed flight of a hydrogen "space balloon."

Branson will co-pilot 'Spaceship Neptune,' operated by Florida-based space tourism company Space Perspective, which aims to take a group of eight individuals on a journey 20 miles into Earth's stratosphere—higher than any previous commercial balloon flight.

The U.S. startup promotes this flight as the safest, most accessible, and first carbon-neutral human spaceflight experience. "Redefining the category of space travel, ours is the largest spaceflight capsule in existence," said Space Perspective.

Passengers aboard the "spaceship balloon" will enjoy stunning views and creature comforts, including Wi-Fi, cocktails, fine dining, plush safety seating, luxury amenities, and even a proper restroom.

The inaugural commercial space flights are scheduled for 2025, with tickets priced at USD 125,000 per explorer.

The flight will last approximately six hours, starting with a two-hour ascent, followed by two hours floating at an altitude of 100,000 feet (30 km), and concluding with a gentle two-hour descent before splashdown in the ocean, where a ship will be waiting to retrieve them.

Explorers on Spaceship Neptune will experience breathtaking views that have captivated astronauts since the dawn of the Space Age. They will ascend into a star-filled night sky, gaze down at Earth, and witness the sunrise over the curved horizon, illuminating the thin blue line of the atmosphere. The space company claims passengers will have a nearly 360-degree panoramic view, allowing them to see about 450 miles in all directions.

After splashdown, Space Perspective will collect passengers and return them to land.

According to the New York Post, over 1,800 individuals have already reserved seats on this commercial vehicle, which successfully completed its first test flight just last month.

In 1987, Richard Branson and Per Lindstrand were the first to cross the Atlantic in a hot air balloon, and in 1991, Branson flew across the Pacific Ocean. He became the first billionaire to fly his own spacecraft to the edge of space in 2021.

"When I think about the most thrilling moments of my life, ballooning is right up there. So, I am very excited to share a new venture that I've been introduced to - Space Perspective," Branson said in a statement. 

"This is the ultimate ballooning adventure," he added. "I love adventure and trying things that haven't been done before. I once achieved world records for the first crossings of the Atlantic and the Pacific in a balloon. We also attempted several times to fly around the world in a balloon. Some of the most magnificent experiences of my life have happened on ballooning expeditions."

Joining Branson on the ballooning trip will be Space Perspective's founders, Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter.