Michelin-star meals on the edge of space offered for US$130,000
CTV
Eating a Michelin-star-level meal on the "edge of space" could be a reality next year, if French company Zephalto has its way.
Eating a Michelin-star-level meal on the "edge of space" could be a reality next year, if French company Zephalto has its way.
The space tourism venture, founded by former air traffic controller Vincent Farret d'Astiès, is currently selling "pre-reservation tickets" for upcoming trips in a pressurized capsule, dubbed Celeste, attached to a stratospheric balloon.
This capsule will ascend to an altitude of 25 kilometres (about 15.5 miles), allowing guests to marvel at the curvature of the Earth. In between gawping at views, travellers will be wined and dined in style.
Pre-reservation tickets are going for 10,000 euros (roughly US$10,900) and give purchasers a chance to reserve a seat whenever tickets go on sale. All in all, a trip on Celeste will set you back 120,000 euros (around US$131,100).
Zephalto told CNN Travel that seats on board the first flights from late 2024 to mid-2025 have already been scooped up, and they're now selling pre-reservation slots for mid-2025 onwards.
Celeste promises to ferry six passengers and two pilots to maximum altitude in just 90 minutes, at a speed of four meters per second. The capsule will then float above Earth for three hours -- plenty of time to enjoy a multiple-course meal and several glasses of fine French wine.
Farret d'Astiès told CNN Travel that while Celeste's food and beverage options will be luxurious, "the view and overall journey remains the central focus of the offering, allowing guests to appreciate and take in the beauty of their surroundings."
