Commercial space flight on a large scale is coming sooner than most people think.
Flynn Cruse ’18 moved to Florida in October to join an industry in its infancy. He works as the Cabin Pressure Control Systems Engineer for a company called Space Perspective. The startup has already sold more than 1,000 reservations for trips which are expected to begin as soon as 2024. An unmanned test will be conducted later this year.
“I’ve always been interested in space since I was young, looking up at the stars. I’ve always been interested in being part of something that is innovative and space flight is certainly that,” Flynn said.
“This has been the kind of opportunity that I dreamt of. It’s exciting and I’m learning a lot. I feel very fortunate to have landed this role and to be surrounded by so many bright people.”
His job as the Cabin Pressure Control Systems Engineer within the ECLSS team (Environmental, Climate, and Life-Support Systems), is to make sure that the space capsule carrying eight passengers, and a pilot, remains pressurized as it ascends, floats, and descends. Space Perspective utilizes massive high-altitude hydrogen balloons to lift its capsules and passengers to the edge of space. From there, Flynn believes Space Perspective will provide “a truly one-of-a-kind journey that promises to radically shift one’s perception of our world and our place within it!”
Flynn graduated from N.C. State University last year with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
More information about Space Perspective, and some stunning graphics can be found through the company’s website at www.spaceperspective.com.