Axiom Space Station
Axiom Space is developing the world’s first commercial space station, known as Axiom Station. Learn more about this private enterprise.
Tourism Spacecraft
Embark on the ultimate adventure with spacecraft offering civilian space travel experiences, allowing private citizens to venture into the cosmos for leisure and exploration.
What Do Tourism Spacecraft Offer?
Suborbital flights take you up just far enough to experience weightlessness for a few minutes before bringing you back down, and companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are leading the way in making this possible. If you’re looking for something more extravagant and have a hefty budget, orbital flights are an option, with companies like SpaceX offering trips where you can orbit the Earth for several days—essentially a mini vacation in space.
The ultimate dream, though, is Moon and Mars tourism. SpaceX, in particular, is working toward turning visits to these distant destinations into a reality, making them the ultimate bucket list adventure.
VSS Unity
Explore VSS Unity, Virgin Galactic’s revolutionary spacecraft offering suborbital spaceflight experiences and experience weightlessness.
SpaceShipTwo
Explore SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic’s innovative spacecraft offering suborbital space tourism experiences and its role in commercial flight.
New Shepard Capsule
Discover New Shepard, Blue Origin’s suborbital launch vehicle, offering passengers a glimpse of space and weightlessness.
What Will Space Tourism Look Like In The Coming Years?
Advancements in reusable rocket technology, such as SpaceX’s Starship, will dramatically reduce the cost of space travel, making it more accessible to a broader audience. Space hotels, such as the planned Voyager Station, could also host tourists for extended stays, offering amenities like luxury accommodations, research labs, and entertainment in microgravity.
Ensuring the safety of non-professional astronauts in space will remain a top priority, requiring rigorous training, reliable technology, and effective emergency protocols. It’s also important to keep in mind that rocket launches produce carbon emissions and atmospheric pollutants. So, developing sustainable launch systems will be crucial to minimize the environmental footprint.
What Does It Cost?
Companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin offer brief experiences of weightlessness and views of Earth from the edge of space (about 100 km or 62 miles above sea level). These trips last minutes but provide a powerful sense of awe and perspective. Suborbital flights run around $200,000–$500,000 per ticket. Orbital trips are in the tens of millions. But as tech improves, prices might drop (fingers crossed 🤞).