Zero 2 Infinity

Zero 2 Infinity (Spain, founded 2009) works on high-altitude balloon technology for access to near-space. The company’s Bloon project is a stratospheric balloon capsule intended to carry passengers to ~30 km altitude, allowing a few hours of viewing the curvature of Earth (a near-space tourism experience without reaching orbit). Separately, Zero 2 Infinity has developed Bloostar, a rocket to launch small satellites that is itself lofted by a balloon to ~20 km before ignition – this balloon-assisted launch approach aims to reduce fuel usage and cost. Bloostar has undergone subscale tests, though not yet an orbital launch. Zero 2 Infinity’s dual focus leverages balloons as a relatively low-cost, reusable first stage for both human and payload missions. By using the edge of space as a starting point, the company seeks to carve out a niche in the burgeoning commercial space sector with its unconventional methods.