David Grutman has built an illustrious career crafting euphoric, transporting atmospheres at bacchanalian hotels (Goodtime), restaurants (Swan), and nightclubs (LIV), but the Miami nightlife king’s next project is literally out of this world. Grutman has signed on as the experience curator for the spaceflight startup Space Perspective. Co-founded by entrepreneurs, scientists, and the husband-and-wife team Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, the company has unveiled its design for Spaceship Neptune, a passenger capsule and sustainable model for the age of galactic tourism—it’s being billed as the only carbon-neutral, zero-emission offering in the nascent industry.
Propelled by state-of-the-art balloon technology, the “lounge” will lift off at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and ascend 100,000 ft. on a suborbital trajectory before descending and ultimately splashing down in the ocean six hours later. The interiors are decked out in 360-degree windows with views up to 450 miles in any direction, customizable mood lighting, a telescope, and interactive screens displaying interesting facts about the trip. On-board plants and herbs such as lavender, basil, and rosemary will offer reminders of home and ingredients for special menu items and cocktails served in custom glassware. Bookings are now live for journeys beginning in 2025 at a cost of $125,000 per person (cryptocurrency accepted) with a fully refundable deposit of $1,000.
