European acquisition revives Space Perspective's space tourism ambitions
The law firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo, which represents EOS-X Space, announced this week that the company had acquired competitor Space Perspective after a competitive bidding process. EOS-X Space, based in Madrid, plans to operate luxury space tourism flights using high-altitude balloons.
Space Perspective appeared to cease operations earlier this year after it was evicted from a Florida airport. The company did not respond to Travel Weekly inquiries earlier this year about its future.
The company, which planned to send high-altitude balloons to the edge of space, also faced eviction proceedings from two other landlords. Amid its financial turmoil, Space Perspective ceased communication with clients, leading Signature Travel Network, which had a preferred-supplier agreement with the company, to instruct travel advisors to alert clients who had paid deposits about concerns for the company's future.
But now, Space Perspective seems to be back on track to eventual operation with the acquisition, the price of which was not disclosed. Space Perspective will change its name, but that has not been announced, said Juan Miguel Olry de Labry y Lima, the communications manager for Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo.
EOS-X Space said Space Perspective will operate autonomously with a U.S.-based headquarters and leadership. The company will retain part of its former team and accelerate operational development, the announcement said.
"This is a historic opportunity for two companies that were once rivals to now collaborate in making manned space tourism a reality," said EOS-X Space CEO Kemel Kharbachi in the announcement.
Space Perspective will operate a spaceport in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center for near-space flights and an assembly headquarters in California, according to the announcement. It is not clear where Space Perspective will operate within Kennedy Space Center; the company is facing eviction proceedings from landlord Space Florida at the center.
"We want to emphasize that this is a completely new operation under different ownership," Olry de Labry y Lima said. "Any unpaid obligations belong to the prior company and are being addressed within the liquidation process. The New Space Perspective has initiated new and independent negotiations with Space Florida for our future operations at the facility."
A new company with no contractual obligations
The new version of Space Perspective has acquired the technology, assets and intellectual property of the former Space Perspective through an asset purchase agreement, he said. The new company will not assume debts or contractual obligations, including customer contracts or the reservation database.
Client deposits for Space Perspective were held in escrow and are under the management of a liquidator or fiduciary as part of bankruptcy proceedings, Olry de Labry y Lima said.
Space Perspective planned to charge $125,000 per seat on its capsule, but Olry de Labry y Lima said the company was "reassessing the entire customer journey and value proposition before reopening official sales."
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