Page 40: of Marine News Magazine (June 2023)

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Vessels

Voyager

Space Perspective

Space tourism company Space Perspective is converting will arrive to stabilize the capsule, which will be lifted back an offshore support vessel (OSV) to function as the world’s onto the Voyager by a custom-built A-frame provided by ? rst “marine spaceport”. The Florida-based company in Supreme Integrated Technologies. Voyager’s marine opera-

November 2022 announced it had acquired the 292-foot- tions will be supported by Guice Offshore.

long vessel from Edison Chouest Offshore as the ? rst in its Space Perspective will launch its spaceship from land at planned global ? eet of converted spaceport vessels to support Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and now also from sea the mobile launch of its balloon-driven passenger spacecraft. thanks to its new vessel.

The 2003-built Jones Act vessel C Challenger has been “The future of space travel is on the water,” said Taber renamed Voyager and is currently being converted by Con- MacCallum, founder and co-CEO of Space Perspective. rad Shipyard following preparatory work by Gulf Ship. “MS Voyager unlocks ? exible launch locations, ideal launch

Modi? cations are expected to be completed later this year conditions and more frequent launch opportunities.” and will include the addition of the SpaceBalloon launch According to Space Perspective, its ? eet of spaceport ves- system and a space capsule A-frame, which will house Space sels will allow launches to move into better weather areas for

Perspective’s spaceship Neptune using a specially designed year-round operations, rather than being stuck in one place, cradle on the aft deck. The ship is also being retro? tted as is the case for land-based launches. “And by moving with to run on cleaner-burning biofuel. Classi? cation society the sea breeze,” the company said, “there is virtually no wind

ABS is supporting the reactivation and modi? cation ef- across the deck. This enables more frequent launch opportu- forts with class, engineering review and regulatory services. nities, as well as more options for the time of day, including

Initially homeported in Florida’s Port Canaveral, the sunrise and sunset nighttime stargazing ? ights for explorers.” ship will transport passengers to an approved offshore lo- The company added that its marine-launch enabling as- cation where the SpaceBalloon will ? ll with hydrogen and sets will help it to more rapidly capitalize on a commercial lift spaceship Neptune and its passengers 20 miles above space travel market expected to reach more than $8 billion the Earth. At the end of the six-hour ? ight, the pressur- by 2030. With plans to launch in 2024, Space Perspective ized capsule will splash down gently into the ocean. Fast is currently selling tickets for $125,000, with more than rigid-hulled in? atable boats (RHIB) from Fluid Watercraft 1,100 sold to date.

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