Disclosure/Space Perspective
Dinner in space will take place aboard this ship: a kind of space balloon, which takes you to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere
How far are you willing to travel for an exceptional meal? How about 30,500 meters above sea level on a six-hour stratospheric adventure that will take you to the edge of space?
In an announcement last week, the luxury space travel operator SpaceVIP said he will join the acclaimed chef Rasmus Munk to offer six travelers their first Michelin-starred meal at the edge of space in 2025.
“This announcement shines a spotlight on space tourism and we are excited about the dialogue it starts about the importance of this type of travel,” SpaceVIP founder Roman Chiporukha told Forbes.
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The experience will take place aboard the Neptune Spacecraft, the world’s first carbon-neutral spacecraft, at least astronomical price of US$495 thousand (R$2.4 million) per person. The launch date has been set for the end of 2025 and will depart from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Disclosure
Neptune Spacecraft
What will the dining experience be like in the space?
The flight will last around six hours and will take place in a pressurized capsule that will be lifted into the sky by a stratospheric balloon (see photos of its interior in the gallery below). While on board, participants will have access to Wi-Fi and will be able to live stream the entire experience to friends and family back on Earth.
Details about the menu and how the meal will be served are the “next phase” of the expedition planning process. What is known so far is that the dishes will be “inspired by the role of space exploration in the last 60 years of human history and the impact it has had on society,” said Chiporukha.
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Chef Rasmus Munk is known for his highly immersive and holistic fine dining restaurant, Alchemist, in Copenhagen. In addition to two Michelin stars under its belt, its restaurant is ranked as the 5th best in the world, according to last year’s The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
SpaceVIP chose Munk for this experience because they believe their approach to the dining experience is created through the lens of social impact. “We began our conversation with Chef Rasmus in the third half of last year and it quickly became clear that we were aligned in our purpose-driven approach to this experience,” said Chiporukha.
Included in the price of admission, passengers will be dressed by French fashion house Ogier, whose custom suits will use “cutting-edge fabric technology” specific to this mission.
Since announcing the dinner, SpaceVIP has had dozens of qualified participants express interest. The executive hopes to secure seats for all six passengers “sooner than expected”.
More affordable space travel?
After purchasing three capsules from Florida-based company Space Perspective in 2021, Chiporukha says SpaceVIP has been developing partnerships with artists who aim to elevate human consciousness through the power of space travel.
“It is by launching these flights that we will be able to make them accessible to more people”, stated the founder. “In the 1920s, a ticket for a transatlantic flight was very expensive and only accessible to the elite. However, with advancements in technology and the growth of the airline industry, air travel has become more affordable over time. This is just the beginning of private space travel.”
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“Once we figure out how to grow plants in space with minimal water, these solutions could be used on Earth in places like South Africa or California, which are experiencing unprecedented droughts,” Chiporukha said. “Our goal is to raise awareness and bring people together so that, in solidarity, we can find solutions that benefit us all.”
As plans for this ‘culinary odyssey into the cosmos’ continue to evolve, the executive says SpaceVIP will continue to promote the “transformative” power of space travel.
In addition to being the first Michelin-starred meal served in space, all proceeds from the experience will go to the Space Prize Foundation. “Be it a zero-gravity flight or an orbital mission, we are the destination for all space tourism experiences,” said Chiporukha. “We are excited to be at the forefront of this new world and continue to advance universal space literacy through the Space Prize Foundation.”
