Former Dothan mayor heading to space
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — Mike Schmitz, a well-known politician and philanthropist in the Wiregrass, is taking his adventurous life to the final frontier.
During the induction of the 2024 class of the Alabama Sports and Adventure Hall of Fame, Schmitz revealed in the next 18-20 months, he will travel to the edge of space aboard a 600-foot-tall balloon called Spaceship Neptune.
The former Dothan mayor signed up for the opportunity with Space Perspective, a company based out of Titusville, Florida, around two years ago.
Schmitz says after a lifetime of adventures, including climbing two mountains and swimming from Alcatraz to the Golden Gate Bridge, he wanted to experience something unlike anything before.
“I did Everest and had some issues, so I can’t climb mountains anymore. So, I had to find something else,” said Schmitz. “That’s my next adventure, and I’m excited about it.”
According to the Space Perspective website, Spaceship Neptune will travel 100,000 feet in the air, giving passengers the ability to see around 450 miles in all directions through 360-degree panoramic windows.
“It’s got a bar and a bathroom, so that’s all that counts anyways,” said Schmitz.
The flight will last approximately six hours from take-off to landing.
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