Mercedes-Maybach has partnered up with Space Perspective, a U.S.-based space tourism agency, on an interesting joint project. According to the agreement, Mercedes will provide its electric cars for SP to be used as spaceport shuttles and will also take part in designing the interiors of its hydrogen-powered spaceships.
The U.S.-based space travel operator says its main idea is to abandon the use of expensive and air-polluting rockets for launches. Instead, the company proposes using aerostats not unlike hot air balloons that would rise to altitudes of up to 30 km (18.6 miles). While this is not exactly where space begins, it is approximately the middle of the stratosphere.
The first spaceship, Neptune, is expected to be launched from a space center in Florida. The astronauts will be transported there on Mercedes-Maybach EQS vehicles. Mercedes has also come up with a car-inspired design for the spaceship interior, but says it could use some further improvement with Maybach styling cues.
As the tests are still ongoing, the first manned flight remains scheduled for 2024. A single ticket costs U.S. $125,000, and there are already 1,650 passengers in the queue.
