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The Best Bassinets To Better Soothe Baby, After Testing 10 Top Models
The best bassinets allow parents to keep their newborn close—within arm's reach and earshot—for all that new baby soothing, feeding and care that is so necessary in the first few months. After extensively testing 10 popular bassinets with my fifth baby, I named the Happiest Baby Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet as the best bassinet overall given that it offers the most efficient soothing and the most intuitive features. With pre-owned and rental options available for this FDA-approved bassinet, the steeper price might be less of an obstacle than it was in the past. Five additional bassinets performed well in testing and are worth parents' consideration, including the Arm's Reach Mini Ezee 2-In-1 Co-Sleeper Bassinet and the Halo BassiNest Soothing Swivel Sleeper 3.0.
Two of the best bassinets currently on the market offer soothing features to help babies—and ... [+] parents—get a little more rest.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: RetailersNot everyone opts to use a bassinet, of course; some parents head straight to the full-size crib, but I've found, after five children and years of testing, that a bassinet does ease some of the strain of those first few months, especially smart bassinets like the Snoo. It can make breastfeeding a bit less laborious, and when they cry, fuss and poop at 3 a.M.—and then start over again in a couple of hours—those bassinets that swivel and sway are an absolute lifeline. A bassinet's smaller size also makes it easier to comply with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation to room share with new babies, not bed share. Below is a list of all the best bassinets from my testing process.
MOST POPULAR
Happiest Baby
Happiest Baby Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet
Assembly time: 5 minutesSize: 35.75 x 19 x 31 inchesWeight: 38 poundsPortability: Removable legs and travel bagSoothing options: Four levels of movement and sound, adjustable in the appAdjustable height: Yes (two additional leg extenders available separately for reflux issues)
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If we could all afford an overnight nanny, we parents—and moms in particular—would have a much easier postpartum period adjusting to life with a new baby. But in the absence of that nanny, I found that the Happiest Baby Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet made an excellent stand-in. It was developed by Harvey Karp, pediatrician and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, which details his soothing method for newborns. He developed the Snoo based on research that showed babies benefit from horizontal rather than vertical rocking patterns. Parents strap the baby into a sleep sack that's clipped into both sides of the bassinet, securing them into a safe position on their back, which led to the product recently being granted FDA De Novo authorization when used with the Snoo's specific swaddle. Basically, if you are worried your baby is going to roll into an unsafe position, this product prevents it.
"If cost isn't important, many parents love the Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet with built-in swaddle that senses movement and adds white noise and gentle motion to help soothe your infant," says Dr. Jenelle Ferry, neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group in Tampa, Florida. "If you choose this option, make sure to use the wean function as your infant gets older and can learn to self-soothe/sleep train, so that great sleep can continue once they outgrow the bassinet."
Many have criticized the Snoo's steep price, but it is also available to rent for $159 per month, or to purchase certified pre-owned directly from the brand for less than the full purchase price (it's currently $1,195 for pre-owned Snoo). The rental option especially is attractive, as babies typically need the Snoo only for the first 6 months of life—or even less.
The Snoo soothes babies as they start to fuss, lulling them back to sleep if all they needed was a ... [+] bit of rocking and white noise, not a change or a feed.
Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted Automatic Soothing That Responds To Your BabyI started using the Snoo with my brand-new infant, and after a few days of getting used to it, it was obvious she was cozy and content, settling just moments after being swaddled into it. She was gassy and would have woken and needed to be picked up and rocked many more times throughout the night than she did with the motion and sounds soothing her back to sleep.
Here's how it works: You lay your baby down and turn on the Snoo, and it starts moving side to side, soothing the baby, who is strapped into the brand's sleep sack. It uses white noise, and the noise increases if the baby gets fussier. In addition, the motion speeds up. You can also set it to not move or make noise unless they are fussing, depending on your preferences. In addition, you can adjust all sound levels to ensure they are safe for your young baby. You can also adjust the sensitivity, so that you are still in charge of how long to leave the baby before the Snoo intervenes, and how quickly it responds to fussing. As your baby calms, the sounds and motion decrease, too. Crisis (and another parent wake-up) avoided. The app lets you know as the bassinet moves through increasing levels of sound and motion, attempting to soothe the baby, too, and it does tap out, alerting you that your child needs attention.
A Few ConsiderationsThe Snoo's height is slightly shorter than some other options, but that means it aligns pretty well with most beds, which is great if you want to try to reach into the bassinet to retrieve your baby without getting up. Another potential downside is you have to purchase swaddles specific to the Snoo. Though three lighter-weight Snoo Sleep Sacks come with a purchase, the best swaddle is the super-cozy Snoo Sleep Comforter Sack, which is sold separately and frequently out of stock.
If you have the perfect sleeper, you don't really need a Snoo—unless you are worried about your baby rolling over and getting stuck in that position, or if you have particular concerns over SIDS prevention. "So one thing to consider is waiting to see if your baby needs, or if you need, this level of sleep help before investing in one," says Emily McMason, a parent coach and sleep consultant at Evolving Parents.
For me and my postpartum mental health, a brilliant robot bassinet soothing my baby through shorter wake-ups that didn't warrant feeding or changing meant significantly fewer wake-ups, more rest and a better parent in the daytime.
Read my full, in-depth review of the Snoo for additional details on this bassinet.
The 2024 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.
4Moms
4Moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
Assembly time: 10 minutesSize: 34 x 24 x 39 inchesWeight: 30.5 poundsPortability: No but fits through doorwaysSoothing options: 5 motions, 4 soundsAdjustable height: Yes
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Smart bassinets give parents the luxury of soothing their babies from bed, or from another room as they start to wake up, or if they need a little help falling asleep. The 4Moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet does just that, but without quite the same level of success as higher-priced sleepers like the Snoo or the Cradlewise detailed below.
A More Doable PriceThe biggest criticism I've seen of smart bassinets is that while they seem proficient at soothing babies to sleep, they come with prohibitive price tags for many, often in the thousands of dollars. This alternative smart bassinet is much more affordable, at under $500, and it offers some similar features. You also don't have to purchase a specific swaddle to use with it, and its dimensions work well even in small spaces. However, if you have a true need for assistance soothing your baby to sleep, such as a colicky baby or one who just has difficulty staying asleep, the 4Moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet might not be as effective as higher-priced options.
My baby seemed to find this 4Moms bassinet a bit less comfortable, from the pad to the motion. For example, the pad itself isn't quite as plush as some others. But it performed well in doing what it was supposed to: giving parents choices through the app to soothe their baby to sleep without having to get out of bed quite so frequently.
The 4Moms bassinet felt like an affordable compromise, but it lacked some of the comfort and ... [+] features of the more expensive Snoo.
Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted A Variety Of Customizable Calming MotionsLike other 4Moms products, its bassinet offers numerous motion and speed options, making it customizable to your baby's preferences. The five motions come with relatable names like "car ride" and "rock-a-bye," designed to mimic natural walking patterns and motions of parents and daily life. Caregivers can increase the speed on each one as needed, either from the app or on the bassinet itself. "The science-backed figure-eight motion mimics mom's hip movements as she walks—because when a mom walks and a baby is in the womb, a mom is not walking in a linear fashion and just bumping up and down," says Dr. Whitney Casares, pediatrician and CEO/founder of Modern Mommy Doc. "That motion is more evidence-based."
There's also a built-in timer and white noise. The 4Moms simply wasn't fast enough to really soothe my baby completely, though it did buy some time for when she was drifting off but startled awake, to try to give her a chance to settle in again. If your regular bassinet isn't cutting it, and you prefer an app-based smart bassinet without the high price tag, this one is worth a try.
Amazon
Arm's Reach Mini Ezee 2-In-1 Co-Sleeper Bassinet
Assembly time: 3 minutesSize: 34 x 20 x 32 inchesWeight: 25 poundsPortability: Lightweight, lockable wheels, folds into included travel bagSoothing options: NoAdjustable height: Yes
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Since my first child, I was always confused at this conundrum—your baby only wants to sleep with you, in your big cozy bed, but it's not safe with the soft mattress and blankets and the tired parents who might roll over and more. The Arm's Reach Mini Ezee 2-in-1 Co-Sleeper Bassinet solves that problem by extending your bed into a separate—but attached—space for the baby. The wall drops down to make a place for your child to safely sleep right next to you, where you can hold their hand, rub their head or retrieve that chronically missing pacifier. At the same time, you don't have to worry about co-sleeping risks, as long as you make sure your own covers aren't near the bassinet, and that the edge of the bassinet is flush against your bed (you can also attach it to the bed if you prefer or keep the wall raised for a more traditional bassinet).
"Make sure there is absolutely no gap, and make sure the co-sleeper is sturdy enough," Dr. Casares says, referencing other types that hang off the bed versus standing on their own frame, like this one. "You can grab them, nurse and put them back without having to move much."
Lower one side of this Arm's Reach bassinet and pull it flush to your bedside for safer co-sleeping.
Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted Plenty Of Storage, TooArm's Reach makes a number of affordable bassinets that are sturdy, streamlined, portable—and often loaded with storage, which is a perk many appreciate and which is lacking in other bassinets. This particular bassinet has better storage than the other bassinets in this story, with large top and bottom pockets on the sides. You could easily use this as a diaper-changing station as well, eliminating the need for a separate one, thanks to these pockets.
Halo
Halo BassiNest Soothing Swivel Sleeper 3.0
Assembly time: 12 minutesSize: 34 x 34 x 42.5 inchesWeight: 23 poundsPortability: Removable bassinet basketSoothing options: Two vibrations, four calming soundsAdjustable height: Yes
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The Halo has had a popular following for years. It was one of the first bassinets to help parents realize that maybe they actually didn't have to get out of bed to soothe or feed their babies at night by making use of the bassinet's swivel function that brings the baby to you. The side of the Halo pushes down, so you can see or pick up the baby right from your bed. All this has made postpartum recovery a bit easier for some.
The Halo Bassinest sits just above your bed (although it is adjustable) and has a side that pushes ... [+] down for easier retrieval of your baby.
Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted Limited Soothing But An Affordable PriceHalo bassinets—the brand makes several versions of its BassiNest—aren't "smart" products, because the bassinet doesn't integrate with an app or respond to a baby's cues with soothing sounds and motion. However, the Halo BassiNest Soothing Swivel Sleeper 3.0 does offer multiple soothing vibrations, sounds and levels, plus lighting that parents can activate to help babies fall asleep faster and more easily.
One of the best features of the Halo BassiNest is the raisable pole that you can move without tools to adjust the height of the bassinet. Unfortunately, the lowest setting didn't align well with my somewhat lower bed. On the other hand, it can move high enough that postpartum parents don't have to bend over much in a standing position to place the baby inside. You can also remove the basket, a feature Dr. Ferry likes, to use elsewhere in the house, eliminating the need for additional baby products in other rooms.
I personally struggled with getting the baby safely out when pushing down the side of the bassinet from a lying-down position. I wish the side could push down and stay down while you do this, rather than snapping back up. However, if you are looking for a more budget-friendly bassinet with some soothing functions built into it, plus portability and adjustability, the Halo BassiNest line might work for your family, particularly this new model.
Read my full, in-depth review of the Halo BassiNest Soothing Swivel Sleeper 3.0 for additional details on this bassinet.
Assembly time: 20 minutesSize: 40 x 25 x 42 inchesWeight: 88.2 poundsPortability: No but fits through doorwaysSoothing options: Three stages of responsiveness with multiple sound and motion intensitiesAdjustable height: Yes
Pros:
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Many seasoned parents understand that many, many babies need motion to get them to sleep, especially in those first few weeks and months, which is where these smart bassinets, including Cradlewise, can help.
"All of those smart bassinets are trying to mimic what's happening in the womb in that fourth trimester, so it isn't quite so startling and such an abrupt transition for little ones," says Dr. Casares.
Responsive Motion And An Easy-To-Use AppThe Cradlewise All-in-One Smart Crib was a winner in this regard, offering a seriously bouncy motion up and down, mimicking parents' rocking. I loved how you get it going—you bounce the side of it yourself three times, which is brilliant and means you don't have to dig for your app. Once it's going, white noise with a wide variety of sounds and levels soothes your baby when they stir, and the app alerts you to their actions: "Baby fell asleep" or "Crib started bouncing" and so on.
My baby did seem to prefer side-to-side motion (like the Snoo) over the up-and-down motion, though it did seem to properly mimic a parent bouncing a baby in their arms.
The Cradlewise Smart Crib bounces to help babies get to sleep, but it's also the most spacious of ... [+] all the options tested and can be used up to 33 pounds, which is roughly around age 2.
Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted It's Crib-Sized And Comes With A Built-In Baby MonitorA unique perk of the Cradlewise is that it's also large enough to be used as a full-size crib, meaning you can use this until your child is age 2 or otherwise ready for a toddler bed, eliminating the need to purchase both a smart bassinet with soothing features and a crib separately.
But it's not just a two-in-one nursery item—it also comes with a baby monitor already built in to the bar extending above the bed. As someone who has fought to angle my fair share of monitors to see the baby properly (I tested 10 of them for Forbes Vetted), what a relief it was when laying her down in any part of the bed delivered a full view of my baby. You can even flip the image on the app if you place the baby down "backward."
As with all monitors, safety can be a concern, but I was thrilled to learn that Cradlewise has accounted for this. "To ensure privacy, we never store any audio data. Instead, we capture spectrograms, which are frequency graphs of the audio feed. These spectrograms are used by AI to learn and recognize cry signatures," a Cradlewise representative explained. For the non-techies among us, this means that instead of storing my baby's actual sounds, they store pictures of them and use that to recognize crying. Also, data is encrypted, and there are no external views of the rest of the bedroom, just the crib.
Because of these added features and the potential for long-term use, I believe this otherwise pricey bassinet is worth the investment. Also, the Cradlewise is super cute and would look great in any adult bedroom or nursery, with white mesh breathable sides and a wood frame.
Amazon
Chicco LullaGo Anywhere LE Portable Bassinet
Assembly time: 6 minutesSize: 30 x 18 x 42 inchesWeight: 12.6 poundsPortability: Lightweight, removable legs, includes carry bagSoothing options: NoAdjustable height: No
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Simple, light and movable: The Chicco LullaGo Anywhere LE Portable Bassinet is perfect for your office, living room or playroom, or even as a secondary bassinet, because you can literally pick it up with one hand and take it to another room. The sunshade means you can park it under a window during a nap if need be (but keep an eye on the temperature).
No Soothing Center But Perfect In A PinchIt has no extras, such as sound, swaddles or movement, which is perfect for some babies to learn how to nap or sleep without these additions or for those seeking a secondary nap spot or portable bassinet for the house or travel. It can also provide a safe place for awake tummy time, especially if you have a dog or other toddlers making you concerned with safety on the floor. If you plan to actually travel with this, the legs come off easily. "Portability and being able to fold or collapse can be very convenient if you plan on traveling," says Alison Macklin, a Toronto-based certified child sleep consultant at Good Night Sleep Site.
I'd like to see Chicco make the mattress pad slightly more comfortable, as it's a bit thin. However, parents can rest assured that it's a safe and convenient space.
This Fisher-Price bassinet is affordable, but the soothing features weren't robust enough to win us ... [+] over.
Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted The Other Bassinets I TestedI tested four additional bassinets with my newborn that ultimately didn't make the cut.
Béaba by Shnuggle Convertible Air Bedside Sleeper Bassinet: This bassinet was harder to assemble than competitors, with too many steps, and didn't offer many helpful additional features aside from easy bedside access to the baby.
Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Bassinet: This cheerful and budget-friendly bassinet includes a mobile and offers a few soothing features, but its sounds, lights and motions aren't robust enough to soothe the baby more than a basic bassinet.
Maxi-Cosi Iora Bedside Bassinet: Though it is one of the most attractive and trendy options and offered a substantial storage area underneath, this bassinet is quite bulky compared to competitors. Its adjustable but doesn't offer any soothing features. Dr. Ferry likes the fabric on this one: "I especially like the mesh sides, which not only allow you to see your infant, but also allow for breathability," she says.
TruBliss Evi Smart Bassinet: The motion wasn't as smooth and seamless as expected in this smart bassinet, nor was it particularly portable. If you are looking for an option that connects to Alexa or Google Home, the TruBliss Evi Smart might be worth exploring, but it didn't measure up to competitors in testing.
Smart bassinets like the Cradlewise allow parents to track a baby's sleep patterns and to customize ... [+] soothing features—from an app on their phones.
Illustration: Forbes Vetted / Photos: Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted How I Tested The Best BassinetsBabies are unpredictable. But my testing methodology accounted for this, ensuring other parents would have excellent experiences with these top picks.
Assembly: First, I timed how long it took to build each bassinet, noting if there were too many steps or complicated directions. Then, I examined the product for storage, safety, softness or firmness, and tried it in multiple locations such as by the bed and in other rooms.
Baby Sleep: I had my baby nap and also sleep overnight in each bassinet. Of course, naptimes varied because, well, babies, but I tried to control for factors such as time of day, mood and placing the baby to sleep while she was awake but ready for rest after a feeding.
Features: I tried various functions the bassinet offered with the baby, including sound types and volumes, motion types and levels, along with any other features. I examined the smart products' apps for user-friendliness, accessibility to the functions you need quickly and the ability to personalize and customize settings.
Longevity And The Baby Experts: Then, I talked to five experts in this space, including neonatologists (aka expert baby doctors!), sleep consultants and others. Macklin recommended keeping an eye on longevity, which I did, saying, "Bassinets should really only be used for the first 3 to 4 months of an infant's life. As they get closer to being able to roll over, the bassinet then becomes an unsafe option, even if the infant has not exceeded the weight limits yet. As soon as an infant is showing signs of rolling, it is advised to move them to sleep in a crib or pack and play." This meant looking at features that allowed a product to last longer by converting to something else, such as the Cradlewise, or products that could be rented and returned, like the Snoo. On the contrary, the Maxi-Cosi Iora, which I loved in some ways, was oversized but still wouldn't be usable past those first 4 months or so, making the extra space unnecessary.
Portability
Finally, I determined how easy or difficult the product was to move from room to room or to disassemble for travel.
Comfort
And though babies can't tell you how they feel, I tried to perceive how comfortable my baby seemed on the mattresses and in the bassinets in general by observing her cues and sleep quality.
Consider how long you plan to use the bassinet before selecting one, because some accommodate babies ... [+] for longer.
Alexandra Frost For Forbes Vetted How To Choose The Best Bassinet To BuyHere's what to consider when shopping for the best bassinets. You'll likely find that it's quite an individual decision, but I can guide you through what to consider and evaluate.
SizeMany families don't have a lot of extra space alongside the primary bed, so you'll want to choose a bassinet that fits and that you can safely maneuver around. A co-sleeper can help with this, as well as bassinets with legs that extend slightly under the bed, such as the Halo.
Strong Sounds And MovementsIf you are choosing a bassinet that moves, you want it to move enough. Babies don't respond too well to tiny motions or low sounds. So check that the sound can be loud enough to help them fall asleep—but remain within safety guidelines—and that the motion is as vigorous as you bouncing or rocking them yourself (or close to it). For example, though I loved aspects of the Fisher-Price bassinet, the motions and sounds weren't robust enough to positively impact the baby.
LongevityChoose a bassinet that serves a specific purpose for its value, so portability or smart features, for example, and that can then be stored away until your next child, resold or otherwise passed down—or choose one that can be used for longer, such as the Cradlewise. Picking an expensive product for just a few months can be less cost-effective for families. However, if you have a fussy sleeper, a smart bassinet might be the best investment you've made for your mental health.
"Also make sure to follow the weight and height limits on your chosen bassinet (if you're choosing to use a bassinet for a longer period of time, consider going for a larger one that can accommodate a growing baby). Infants should move out of a bassinet by 4 to 6 months," Dr. Ferry says. This, of course, is dependent on your child, their size and how soon they start trying to roll over and sit up.
User-FriendlinessAs with any baby product, the last thing you want to do is fight with your bassinet's functions in the middle of the night, or have to scramble to fix your app. So look for intuitive options that are easy to use and make sense to you. The 4Moms bassinet, for example, can be operated from the app or from the side of the bassinet, which is helpful if your phone isn't nearby.
How Do I Choose The Safest Bassinet?I also kept an eye out for these red flags from Macklin:
I've been rocking babies to sleep for almost a decade—and laying them super carefully into a wide variety of bassinets and cribs before sneaking out on actual tiptoe, like all parents. Throughout my five babies' lives, I've been fascinated by finding and testing the best baby products, which I then communicate to parents through my job as a product journalist. For this story, I tested 10 bassinets and interviewed five experts, to ensure I explored the data fully, and ultimately found the best products for a variety of parents and babies.
As a journalist, I've worked with multiple national parenting publications and spent a significant amount of time researching new studies and findings related to baby products and wellness, including the best tested high chairs and pregnancy pillows.
The experts I interviewed for this story included:
After testing, I found the Snoo to be best bassinet, and it features prominently on competitor lists and reviews as well. Halo's BassiNests also rate well, in general, and so do the various Arm's Reach co-sleeper models.
However, the top-rated bassinet for your own family will be what suits your individual needs and your baby best. For example, if you are at the beginning of a journey to have multiple kids, it might be worth investing in a bassinet with all the extra features and abilities to go the distance for years. If you just need an additional product to help your baby nap while you cook dinner for the next month, you might consider a totally different option and certainly something less expensive.
Is It Better To Put A Newborn In A Crib Or Bassinet?The AAP recommends room sharing, but not bed sharing, for the first 6 months of a baby's life. So, for some, this might mean a crib can't fit in your bedroom comfortably, necessitating a smaller item like a bassinet. Dr. Casares says the most important thing is having the baby in their own separate space, whether that's a bassinet or crib.
Another expert I spoke to had a more conservative view: Dr. Moorjani prefers that babies over 10 pounds sleep in a crib, which might eliminate the need for a bassinet if you have a larger newborn. Personally, I enjoyed the convenience of bedside bassinets when my babies were still small.
What Age Is Baby Too Big For A Bassinet?Most babies outgrow a bassinet between 4 to 6 months of age, according to Dr. Ferry, but some outgrow them sooner depending on their size and mobility. If your baby is starting to try to pull up or sit up in the bassinet, it's definitely time to transition them to a larger and deeper crib. You'll also want to pay close attention to the manufacturer's height and weight maximums to ensure your child doesn't exceed those.
Is It OK For A Baby To Sleep In A Bassinet Overnight?As long as your baby can't roll, climb out or otherwise exit the bassinet, it's safe for newborns to sleep in a bassinet—and in fact, it's safer than having them sleep in a swing or in your bed, neither of which are recommended by pediatricians.
Babies should be placed on their backs in the bassinet just like a crib, without any extra blankets, stuffed animals or pillows per safe sleep guidelines, which all of the experts interviewed emphasized. When they are a few months old and can do some of these milestones, it's time to switch to a crib.
Dr. Ferry warns not to have a baby in constant motion—the smart bassinets have options to turn off motion while the baby isn't fussing and the less expensive ones also typically only run for a set amount of time. "You want to avoid utilizing motion during the entirety of your infant's sleeping," she adds.
Additional Baby Nursery Stories To ShopGiving Back Note: Seven bassinets were donated to families in need via the Christian Family Center in Hamilton, Ohio after testing was completed.
HALO Space Unveils Capsule Design For Stratospheric Space 'glamping'
LONDON — Stratospheric balloon company HALO Space plans to offer aspiring space travelers the space tourism equivalent of glamping. Instead of tight space suits and stomach-churning G-forces typically attached to a rocket flight, the company's pressurized capsule, attached to a helium-filled balloon, will offer comfy swivel seats, giant windows and a selection of fine cuisine.
The Spanish-headquartered firm unveiled the design of the 3.9-ton (3.5 metric tonnes) Aurora capsule at an event in London on Wednesday, April 10, and said it hoped to begin commercial operations in 2026.
Unlike suborbital space tourism companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, HALO Space won't be taking passengers high enough to experience weightlessness. The flight will be a rather leisurely affair lasting up to six hours, almost four of which will be spent hovering in the stratosphere some 22 miles (35 kilometers) above Earth's surface. There, high above the cloud tops, passengers will be able to admire the star-studded blackness of space above, as well as the curvature of the planet shrouded in the atmosphere beneath their feet.
Related: Space Perspective is nearly ready to fly tourists on luxury balloon rides near the edge of space (exclusive)
"When you talk to astronauts, they tell you that this experience of watching the planet from above is really something unique and extraordinary," HALO Space CEO Carlos Mira said in the press conference. "So far, only 650 humans have had the opportunity to experience this overview effect. But you don't need to go all the way to space to have it. We hope to offer this experience to 1,000 people by 2030."
HALO Space is one of two companies currently readying its balloon technology to begin commercial operations in the next two years. The other is Florida-based Space Perspective, which revealed a completed test model of their Spaceship Neptune in February. HALO Space said they have conducted five test flights with a mockup and plan to take off for the first crewed test in 2025 before commencing flights with paying passengers a year later.
Both companies hope their propositions will attract a wider customer base than the jerky rocket rides of Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, which propel daredevil clients on short joy rides to the edge of space and back. Reaching an altitude nearly three times higher than stratospheric balloons, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin's spacecraft experience several-minute-long spells of microgravity before falling back to Earth.
At $164,000 per seat, a trip with HALO Space will cost about a third of the price of a Virgin Galactic flight and won't require any advanced medical certifications.
"The take-off will be like being in an elevator," said Mira. "The ascent is soft and gentle, climbing at 12 miles per hour."
The 16-foot-wide (5 meters) and 11.5-foot-tall (3.5 m) capsule will be made of aluminum alloy and composite materials. With an internal space of 30.4 square feet (2.8 square meters), the spaceship could host eight paying passengers, plus a pilot. The internal atmosphere will be maintained by a life-support system similar to that of an aircraft. Yet despite this crammed interior and the extreme environment outside the capsule, passengers should still feel perfectly comfortable and able to relax.
"It's meant to be a sort of a glamping experience," Frank Stephenson, creative director and founder of Frank Stephenson Design who led the design work said at the conference. "It's a high-level experience for these people who are used to flying first class rather than economy."
Stephenson, who had previously worked for high-end car makers including BMW, Ferrari, Maserati and McLaren, said the biggest challenge was keeping the capsule light enough so that it can be safely lifted by the balloon while still making sure every aspect of the interior lives up to the expectations of passengers.
"It's very easy to add weight to things and make it super comfortable," Stephenson said. "It's more difficult to reduce weight, reduce material and still make it feel like a very unique experience."
When fully inflated, the stratospheric balloon will be 460 feet (140 meters) tall, towering over the gleaming space capsule. The balloon is designed to detach from the capsule during descent. The capsule will then be brought down to a landing under a steerable parachute. Mira said the balloon technology is inherently safer than rockets loaded with explosive fuels. It also produces no greenhouse gas emissions, making the experience 100 percent compliant with the most stringent environmental protection standards.
"We are using mature technologies," said Mira. "Balloons in general have been around for more than 200 years. This type of balloon, stratospheric balloons, have been around for almost 100 years. The first human went to the stratosphere on a balloon in 1931."
HALO Space plans to fly from spaceports in the Mojave Desert in the U.S., Spain, Australia and Saudi Arabia. The company is currently working with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to receive a license before its first crewed flight next year.
Halozyme Therapeutics Inc HALO
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