US-based space expedition company, SpaceVIP, is set to make its debut in India next month, opening up exciting opportunities for high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) in the country to journey into space.

Headquartered in New York, SpaceVIP plans to offer space experiences like space balloons akin to those offered by Space Perspective, to zero-gravity flights that provide the sensation of lunar, martian, and zero gravity environments. It also plans to take clients to the International Space Station (ISS). “For the first time, these luxury services will be available to clientele in India,” the company emphasized in a statement.

SpaceVIP was founded by Roman Chiporuka and Eddie Miller in early 2021. Through his lifestyle management and travel firm, Roman & Erica, Roman successfully arranged the final passenger’s ticket to the first all-private space mission, priced at $50 million for a trip to the ISS.

“I realized that many of the comforts that we take for granted in our daily lives are purely the result of space innovation… Private sector participation in the space industry is accelerating innovation critical to the future of mankind, giving us a chance to tackle the critical social, economic and environmental challenges facing our planet,” explained Roman Chiporuka, co-founder of SpaceVIP.

SpaceVIP has turned its gaze toward the Indian market, spurred by the nation’s burgeoning interest in space activities and the growing number of HNIs. The company has been closely monitoring India’s recent achievements in space education and exploration, including the successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing and the recent launch of Aditya-L1 toward the outermost layers of the Sun, as shared by a company official with TOI.

The company’s mission is to foster a global culture of curiosity and provide its clients with a deeper comprehension of the cosmos, SpaceVIP revealed.SpaceVIP’s website highlights its capability to secure tickets for 11 distinct space travel programs. These programs can be completed in a single day and require minimal training, according to Chiporukha, who anticipates rapid ticket sales once regular flights commence.