LONDON: Saudi Arabia will host the next test flight of space tourism firm Halo Space, it was announced on Wednesday.
In collaboration with the Kingdom’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission, or CST, the sixth Halo Space test flight in September will use a life-size prototype capsule, Aurora, which will ascend to 30 km above the Earth’s surface.
The flight will be used to check and validate the integrated operation of all critical systems developed over the past three years, the firm said.
“The dates and location were set to ensure the reliable operation of our equipment and safe conditions for the teams that will be on the ground operating the flight,” said Alberto Castrillo, chief technology officer at Halo Space.
The CST has been working with and supporting Halo Space since the start of the year, overseeing preparations for the test flight.
It has also been collaborating with other government entities such as the General Authority of Civil Aviation to meet all regulatory requirements for the flight.
It said that the decision to establish its flagship operational base and final assembly site in Saudi Arabia underscored the Kingdom’s ideal conditions for space exploration and its ambitions to be at the forefront of space tourism.
Halo Space’s prototype capsule test flights are a prelude to the launch of manned flights, expected to begin in 2025, to be followed by commercial flights in 2026.
