It seems that humanity isn’t too far away from the point where anyone will be able to travel to outer space, and the rising of some space tourism companies shows that anyone can experience that final frontier for a cost. An eventual rapid growth of space tourism could mean that traveling to outer space will become as easy as booking a flight, and experts even say that the industry could change the world in just a matter of years.
Space Travel for Tourists Is Getting More and More Popular
While the exact border is still debated, space travel is largely considered to be any air travel beyond 50 or 60 miles above sea level. So, when offering space tours, companies either offer orbital or suborbital flights. People who would like to go to space can witness the iconic thin blue line of Earth’s atmosphere against the blackness of space. Apparently, this is the quintessential astronaut experience and the reason why many people want to travel to space. Astronauts have certainly described it as personally transformational. Still, getting on a spacecraft right now is rather expensive, and there are alternatives offered by virtual space exhibits.
There Are Many Private Space Tourism Companies Operating Today
SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are the top three private companies that offer space tourism options to enthusiasts from all over the world. Founded by Elon Musk, SpaceX carried two NASA astronauts to the ISS in 2020, making it the first crewed mission to launch in the US in 10 years. SpaceX now charters private orbital flights to the International Space Station using its Dragon spacecraft, and the experience costs tens of millions of dollars per seat. The company has many other bold plans for future space tourism.
Just as prominent is Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin with its commercial suborbital flights. It charges $28 million for a ticket on its first flight, one that Jeff Bezos himself boarded. Meanwhile, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is planning to start commercial operations next year, with reservations for flights starting at $450,000.
A Space Tourism Trip Can Cost From Half a Million to Tens of Millions
People who want to go for a less expensive trip can do it with a different option – a zero-pressure balloon that takes tourists to an altitude of 20 miles where the curvature of the Earth can be seen. Space Perspective is one company that offers these balloon rides, and a seat on its Spaceship Neptune costs $125,000. Another company, World View, charges $50,000 per seat.
There’s certainly a big future for space tourism, and experts predict that travelers may even want to stay and live in space. So, companies have already launched plans to build properties and accommodations like space hotels for tourists who want to spend the night.