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Halo Space Capsule Set To Fly 32 Km Above Saudi Arabia

A June test flight will launch a second life-size prototype as the company reveals plans to begin commercial “Space Tourism” operations by 2026.

Published

3 years ago

March 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Halo Space

Spanish headquartered Halo Space, a “Stratospheric Commercial Flights Company” has announced plans to launch a sixth test flight from Saudi Arabian airspace in June this year. The news comes after the company received the go ahead from Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST).

This test flight will launch Halo’s prototype capsule 32 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The craft is followed by a helium balloon that slowly ascends and lands back on Earth during the 4-6 hour journey.

Halo plans to begin commercial tourist flights by 2026 at prices of $164,000 per ticket. The company has ambitious plans to help 10,000 people into space this decade, allowing them to view what is known as the Overview Effect — a blue halo that forms around the curvature of the Earth.

Space tourists will eventually be treated to unrivaled 360º vistas for around 1-2 hours at maximum altitude, with the capsule’s windows being significantly larger than those of a commercial airliner.

“I’ve spoken with several astronauts about the feeling of profound transformation when you view the Overview Effect. Everyone should get the chance to see our home from such a view,” says HALO Space CEO Carlos Mira.

Also Read: Pioneering 3D-Printed Mosque Unveiled In Jeddah

Halo is also working with space authorities from the US, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Spain to establish further launch sites. The exact locations have been chosen based on meteorology, territory, and airspace safety.

“It is magnificent to see our vision of making space flight more accessible come to life,” added Carlos Mira. “To prove our concept and showcase all systems working together will signal to the world that near space tourism with Halo Space is ready for lift-off”.

Related Topics:Halo Space Saudi Arabia Space

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Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.