TITUSVILLE, Fla. – The company that advertised seeing the Earth from a balloon is fighting eviction from Space Coast Regional Airport.
News 6 reported last month how the airport threatened to kick out Space Perspective arguing in a lawsuit the tourism startup was $90K behind on its rent.
Space Perspective makes its balloons at the airport, but workers have been off the job for the last two months, according to former employees who contacted News 6.
The company confirmed workers were furloughed.
A few could be seen packing up their things and leaving the offices last month after the airport sent an eviction summons to Space Perspective.
Space Perspective only had five days to respond, and new court documents show it did. Space Perspective admitted to being behind on its rent and gave an explanation.
“Defendant admits that rental payments were not made in full by the due date but asserts that ongoing negotiations and financial constraints contributed to the delay,” court documents read.
Space Perspective also asserted the airport, “did not engage in good-faith negotiations before proceeding with eviction.”
Space Perspective also claimed the amount of rent owed according to the airport was not accurate.
Space Perspective and the airport used to look like a thriving partnership.
Two years ago, local leadership from the airport, to Titusville’s mayor, to state legislators, all praised bringing Space Perspective during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company’s balloon factory.
In September, the company’s founder, Jane Poynter, told News 6 reporter James Sparvero in front of the Space Perspective capsule called Spaceship Neptune that 1,800 passengers who paid $125K a ticket might start flying in just another year.
An eviction hearing is now scheduled for March 5.
Stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates to this developing story.
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