Tourist spacecraft usually fall into three main categories, depending on how high they go and how long people stay up there. Some offer quick, suborbital rides with a taste of weightlessness, others orbit Earth for days, and a few use giant balloons to float gently into the stratosphere.
Suborbital spacecraft take tourists right past the edge of space for short flights—about 10 to 15 minutes in total. These vehicles cross either the 50-mile US space boundary or the international 62-mile Kármán line, then head back to Earth.
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo uses a pretty unique air-launch system. A twin-fuselage carrier plane hauls the spaceplane up to 50,000 feet, then the spaceplane drops away and fires its rocket. It climbs up to 280,000 feet. Six passengers get four minutes of weightlessness and incredible Earth views through big windows.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard launches straight up from the ground with an automated rocket. The crew capsule, with six seats, soars past 62 miles. The rocket lands itself for reuse, and the capsule floats down on parachutes.
Both companies put a lot of effort into safety, loading their vehicles with backup systems. New Shepard flies itself—no pilots at all. SpaceShipTwo, on the other hand, always has two experienced test pilots at the controls.
Seats on these suborbital flights cost anywhere from $200,000 to $450,000. Training is pretty quick—just a couple of days, covering safety basics and a crash course on handling G-forces.
Orbital spacecraft take tourists much higher and a heck of a lot faster than suborbital vehicles. These ships circle Earth at over 17,000 mph and soar above 200 miles, sometimes for days on end.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon leads the way for commercial orbital tourism. Their reusable capsule launches atop a Falcon 9 rocket and fits up to four tourists for missions that last three to five days. The glass cupola dome is a showstopper—360-degree views of Earth and space.
The Russian Soyuz spacecraft took the very first private tourists to the International Space Station back in 2001. These three-seaters require months of training and cost a whopping $20-50 million per ticket.
Orbital flights deliver continuous weightlessness, with passengers circling Earth every 90 minutes. Sixteen sunrises and sunsets a day—that’s a lot to take in while floating inside the cabin.
Training for these missions isn’t easy. It can take weeks or even months, with passengers learning spacecraft systems, emergency drills, and basic life support. You’ve got to be in solid shape, too, since you’re exposed to space for longer stretches than on suborbital flights.
Balloon capsules offer a much gentler ride to near-space, floating up with massive high-altitude balloons instead of rockets. These systems reach over 100,000 feet, where you can see the curve of Earth and the deep black sky.
Space Perspective’s Spaceship Neptune uses a pressurized capsule, hoisted by a balloon the size of a football stadium. Eight passengers and a pilot ride for about six hours, with two hours spent at peak altitude. Huge windows give everyone a panoramic view, and there’s no bone-rattling rocket launch.
The balloon climbs at 12 mph, so the ride feels more like an elevator than a rocket. Passengers stay at normal atmospheric pressure the whole time. There’s no need for intense training or fitness tests—just a basic health screening.
Balloon rides cost about $125,000 per seat, making them a bit more approachable than rocket trips. After the flight, the capsule splashes down in the ocean, where recovery ships scoop everyone up.
These trips attract folks who want space views but aren’t keen on rocket G-forces or long training. The flights last much longer than suborbital rockets, so there’s more time to soak it all in.
Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin stand out in the space tourism race, each with their own style. Virgin Galactic relies on an air-launched spaceplane, while Blue Origin sticks with vertical rocket launches for their suborbital trips.
Virgin Galactic runs the first spaceplane licensed for commercial tourist flights. Their SpaceShipTwo launches from a carrier aircraft at 50,000 feet, then fires its rocket to hit space.
They fly out of Spaceport America in New Mexico. Passengers get about four minutes of weightlessness and reach altitudes above 280,000 feet.
Flight Experience Features:
A ticket goes for around $450,000, including pre-flight training. Virgin Galactic targets travelers who want a gentler ride compared to traditional rockets.
Richard Branson’s team completed their first commercial spaceflight in 2023. They focus on frequent flights with the same spaceplane. The air-launch system also seems to avoid some weather delays that ground-based rockets face.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket launches tourists vertically from West Texas. The capsule crosses the Karman line at 62 miles, and the whole ride lasts about 11 minutes.
The crew capsule boasts the largest windows ever sent to space. Six passengers fly together—no pilot needed. The rocket lands itself for reuse after every mission.
New Shepard Specifications:
Jeff Bezos started Blue Origin with space tourism in mind. Tickets start at $250,000. The company has already flown dozens of paying customers.
Blue Origin puts safety first, running tons of ground tests and unmanned flights before sending people up. The vertical launch gives a quick shot to space altitude.
SpaceX really changed the game for private space travel, launching civilians on multi-day orbital missions with its Crew Dragon spacecraft. The company hit several huge milestones, basically making orbital tourism a real thing for paying customers.
SpaceX sends tourists into low Earth orbit aboard its Crew Dragon for three to five days at a stretch. The capsule rides a Falcon 9 rocket and can reach altitudes between 250 and 400 miles above Earth.
Crew Dragon fits up to four people inside a pressurized cabin, with life support and fully automated controls. There’s even a transparent cupola dome, so you get those wild 360-degree views.
Key Mission Specifications:
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | 4 passengers |
Altitude | 250-400 miles |
Duration | 3-5 days |
Orbit Period | 90 minutes |
The spacecraft runs on autopilot—no passenger needs to fly it. Crew Dragon docks itself with the International Space Station on some missions, or just stays in free flight for sightseeing.
SpaceX charges about $50 million per seat for these trips. That price covers weeks of training, including zero-gravity practice and emergency drills.
SpaceX pulled off the first all-civilian orbital flight with Inspiration4 in September 2021. Four private passengers spent three days in orbit—no professional astronauts on board.
The Polaris Dawn mission made history with the first commercial spacewalk. Crew members left the capsule in custom SpaceX suits, floating above Earth.
SpaceX also set the highest civilian altitude since Apollo during Polaris Dawn. These missions showed private companies can handle complex orbital tasks, not just government agencies.
Axiom Space teams up with SpaceX to send customers to the International Space Station for eight to ten days, living and working alongside professional astronauts.
By 2024, SpaceX had completed six fully private space missions. Each one proved Crew Dragon’s safety and readiness for commercial orbital tourism.
Suborbital flights give passengers a quick but powerful journey to the edge of space, hitting altitudes between 50 and 62 miles. Two companies really dominate this scene, each with their own take on civilian spaceflight.
Suborbital rides take people just past Earth’s atmosphere for a short but unforgettable experience. These flights reach 50-62 miles up, crossing the official space boundary but not circling the planet.
The whole trip lasts 10-15 minutes. Passengers get 3-4 minutes of weightlessness at the top, where they can unbuckle and float around, gazing at Earth’s curve against a pitch-black sky.
Virgin Galactic uses an air-launched system that takes off from a runway. Blue Origin launches vertically from the ground on a rocket.
Tickets go for about $450,000 with Virgin Galactic. Blue Origin hasn’t published its prices, but they’re in the same ballpark. Both require a health check and a couple days of training—mostly safety and G-force prep, plus a bit on floating in zero gravity.
Crossing the space boundary earns passengers official astronaut wings. The FAA recognizes these flights as real space travel.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard brings six passengers to space in an automated capsule, launched by a reusable rocket. Jeff Bezos started the company with the dream of making space trips possible for millions.
The rocket lifts off from West Texas, and the whole journey takes just 11 minutes. Passengers get four minutes of weightlessness after the capsule separates from the booster.
New Shepard’s windows are huge—bigger than any flown before. They give everyone a sweeping view of Earth and space during those weightless moments. The automated system means no pilot, so all six seats go to paying customers.
The rocket booster lands itself for future flights. The crew capsule floats down under parachutes and uses retro rockets to touch down softly. Blue Origin has run lots of uncrewed test flights, building a solid safety record.
Some pretty famous folks have flown—William Shatner became the oldest person in space at 90. Blue Origin sticks to strict medical standards, but they’ve flown passengers ranging from teenagers to seniors.
Virgin Galactic runs SpaceShipTwo, an air-launched spaceplane that gives people a unique flight experience compared to old-school rocket launches. Richard Branson and his team really wanted spaceflight to feel more like hopping on a plane than strapping into a rocket.
The mission starts with a runway takeoff at Spaceport America in New Mexico. WhiteKnightTwo, a twin-fuselage mothership, lifts SpaceShipTwo up to 50,000 feet.
Once they reach altitude, the pilots release SpaceShipTwo, and it fires its rocket motor, climbing to over 280,000 feet. Passengers feel a gradual acceleration, which is a lot less intense than the wild G-forces you’d get with a vertical rocket.
The spaceplane hits three times the speed of sound during the boost. Two pilots fly the vehicle the whole time, adding an extra layer of safety.
Inside, the cabin has big windows and room for up to six people. Passengers get about four minutes of weightlessness to float around and stare at the curve of Earth.
After that, SpaceShipTwo glides back down for a normal runway landing. Virgin Galactic charges $450,000 per seat, and you’ll need to pass medical checks and do some training at Spaceport America first.
Since kicking off commercial flights, the company has flown several successful missions with paying passengers.
Orbital flights take tourists up to the International Space Station, 254 miles above Earth. The trip happens at 17,500 miles per hour and lasts anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks.
These missions cost between $50-100 million per seat. Tourists have to go through extensive astronaut training before launch.
The International Space Station is the main destination for orbital space tourism. This massive laboratory orbits Earth every 90 minutes at about 254 miles up.
Tourists travel to the ISS on commercial spacecraft like SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. The station has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym, and a 360-degree viewing cupola.
Visitors get to float in continuous weightlessness and see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
Current ISS Tourism Stats:
The microgravity lets tourists float through the station’s modules. Huge windows give jaw-dropping views of Earth and its weather.
Most tourist visits last 8-12 days, which gives enough time to adjust to weightlessness and maybe even help out with some experiments.
NASA opened up the ISS to private astronauts in 2019. Now, commercial companies handle tourist transportation and plan the missions.
Visitors need months of training before their flights.
Axiom Space runs the most established orbital tourism program to the ISS. Their Ax-1 mission in April 2022 brought the first all-private crew to the space station.
Each Axiom mission brings four private astronauts for 10-day stays. The Ax-2 mission in 2023 sent up more tourists, keeping the company’s schedule busy.
Axiom teams up with SpaceX for Crew Dragon transportation. During their stays, Axiom’s tourists help with scientific research.
They run experiments in materials science, medicine, and Earth observation. Axiom gives pre-flight training at their Houston center.
Axiom Mission Details:
Axiom plans to attach its own commercial modules to the ISS starting in 2026. Eventually, these modules will break off and form Axiom Station, a private space station.
This move should really boost how many people can visit space.
Russian Soyuz spacecraft took the first space tourists to the ISS back in 2001. Seven civilians flew with Soyuz before the program paused in 2009 because of crew size limits.
The three-seat Soyuz capsule launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Tourists ride in the third seat, next to two professional cosmonauts.
The trip to the ISS takes about six hours using the fast-track route. Soyuz tourists train at Star City near Moscow, learning basic Russian, spacecraft systems, and emergency procedures.
Russia brought back space tourism flights in 2021 with actress Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko. These flights showed Russia’s renewed interest in civilian spaceflight.
The Soyuz program gives an alternative to American commercial spacecraft for orbital tourists. With over 140 successful crewed flights, the spacecraft’s proven technology is a big plus.
Its reliable abort system and precise landings make it appealing to those who worry about safety.
High-altitude balloon capsules offer a much gentler ride to near-space. These pressurized capsules, attached to massive balloons, climb up to 100,000 feet.
People on these flights get hours to enjoy the view, not just a few minutes like in rocket ships.
Space Perspective runs Spaceship Neptune, a pressurized capsule that rises to 100,000 feet with hydrogen balloons. The company holds the record for the highest commercial balloon flight during its tests.
Inside, Neptune offers luxury amenities like Wi-Fi, a bathroom, and even a bar. Passengers spend about six hours on the trip, including two hours at peak altitude.
Space Perspective uses a floating spaceport aboard the MS Voyager ship. This lets them launch from the ocean and recover capsules after splashdowns.
The capsule puts comfort first, avoiding the heavy G-forces of rocket flights. Big windows give sweeping views of Earth against the blackness of space.
Testing has proven the pressure systems, flight controls, and recovery methods work. Balloon capsule flights reach the stratosphere without needing astronaut training or intense physical fitness.
World View Enterprises built their own balloon-based stratospheric tourism system, with capsules from Paragon Space Development Corp. The Arizona company aims for flights to 19 miles up, charging about $75,000 per passenger.
Passengers get two hours at max altitude. The capsule keeps everything pressurized and safe during the slow ascent and descent.
World View’s approach skips weightlessness and wild acceleration. Passengers stay seated, looking out at the world through big windows.
The FAA put World View’s flights under Commercial Space Flight rules. Alan Stern, a former NASA science chief, now leads the company’s science team.
The capsule focuses on safety, using backup systems and tested parts. Paragon Space Development Corp also works on Mars projects, bringing deep space tech to these stratospheric rides.
Tourist spacecraft give people two main ways to try weightlessness: parabolic flights that create quick bursts of zero gravity with special maneuvers, and suborbital trips that deliver several minutes of real weightlessness at the edge of space.
Zero-G parabolic flights use modified jets to create weightlessness without leaving the atmosphere. Companies like Zero-G Corporation fly specially equipped Boeing 727-200s that perform parabolic arcs to simulate zero gravity.
The plane climbs to 24,000 feet, then starts a series of parabolic maneuvers. Pilots pull the jet up at a 45-degree angle, reaching 34,000 feet, and passengers feel 1.8 times normal gravity.
As the plane crests and dives, everyone floats for 20 to 30 seconds of real weightlessness.
Each flight gives you 12 to 15 parabolic arcs. You’ll also get to try lunar gravity at one-sixth Earth weight and Martian gravity at one-third.
These flights use FAA-approved airspace about 100 miles long and 10 miles wide.
Flight packages include pre-flight training, flight suits, professional photos, and certificates. Prices start around $8,200 per person.
If you want to experience genuine weightlessness without breaking the bank, this is the way to go.
Suborbital spacecraft offer longer weightless periods, lasting three to four minutes. Companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin take passengers above the Kármán line, about 62 miles up, where gravity drops off.
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity reaches about 282,000 feet on its suborbital path. Passengers unbuckle and float inside the cabin, gazing out at Earth’s curve.
The weightless part kicks in when the rocket motor shuts off and lasts until descent starts.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule gives a similar ride, with bigger windows and more room to float. The capsule’s automated systems make the shift to weightlessness smooth as it reaches its highest point.
Passengers get to float in space while Earth looks like a blue marble below.
Suborbital weightlessness isn’t just a simulation—it happens in real space. The experience feels more authentic since you’re actually above the atmosphere, not just in a diving airplane.
Space tourists need to pass medical checks and go through specialized training programs before launch. The requirements depend on whether you’re taking a short suborbital flight or heading into orbit for days.
Commercial spaceflight companies ask for comprehensive medical evaluations that go beyond a regular physical. Cardiovascular stress tests check your heart under pressure, and blood pressure tests make sure your circulation is up to the challenge.
Main medical screenings:
Age limits usually fall between 18 and 75, but there are exceptions. Wally Funk flew with Blue Origin at age 82, so it’s not set in stone.
Cardiovascular fitness is a big deal for clearance. You’ll need to show your heart can take 3-4 Gs during launch and reentry.
Conditions like severe heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or certain meds that mess with circulation will disqualify you. Pregnant folks can’t go, since nobody really knows how space affects fetal development.
The FAA sets basic medical standards for commercial spaceflight. Individual companies might have their own extra requirements, depending on their vehicles and missions.
Training time really depends on the mission and how complicated the spacecraft is. Virgin Galactic runs three-day programs for suborbital flights, but SpaceX’s orbital missions take months of preparation.
Suborbital training covers launch acceleration, those short weightless moments, and emergency basics. Blue Origin puts candidates through two days focused on automated flight and passenger safety.
Essential training covers:
The NASTAR Center near Philadelphia runs centrifuge training for several space tourism companies. Candidates get a taste of launch conditions, hitting up to 3.5 Gs, so their bodies aren’t shocked by real spaceflight.
Orbital flight prep gets way more detailed. SpaceX Dragon passengers learn about life support, waste management, and how to communicate on multi-day trips.
Space station visitors spend the most time training—anywhere from three to six months. They cover docking, station operations, and even scientific experiments if their mission calls for it.
Space tourism prices swing wildly depending on the spacecraft and how long you’re up there. Suborbital flights start around $450,000, but orbital missions can hit $55 million per person. Companies keep long waitlists since seats are limited and interest is sky-high.
Suborbital flights are the most affordable way to get to space, if you can call $450,000 affordable. Virgin Galactic asks that much for a SpaceShipTwo seat, and Blue Origin’s New Shepard is in the same ballpark.
These trips last 10-15 minutes and reach the edge of space. Passengers float for a few minutes and look out at Earth’s curve through big windows.
Orbital missions cost way more. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon rides to the International Space Station run between $50-55 million per seat. These trips last several days and give you the full orbital experience.
Alternative options exist for those on a tighter budget. High-altitude balloon flights start at $50,000 and climb to near-space. They don’t cross the official space line, but the views are jaw-dropping.
Payment varies by provider. Some let you pay in installments, while others want all the money upfront. You’ll also pay for training, insurance, and getting yourself to the launch site.
Space tourism companies usually have long waitlists because flights aren’t frequent. Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin launch monthly or quarterly, with just 3-6 people per trip.
The booking process starts with a deposit, sometimes between $10,000 and $50,000. Medical screenings come next to make sure you’re fit enough. Most companies set age limits between 18 and 65.
Training requirements stretch the timeline. Passengers need to finish safety and physical prep courses that can last days or even weeks. These sessions happen near the launch sites.
It can take 18 months from booking to suborbital flight, but orbital trips might make you wait 4-6 years. Bad weather or technical issues can push things back even more.
Priority booking goes to repeat customers or those willing to pay extra for an earlier spot. Standby seats pop up now and then, but don’t count on it.
Space tourism stirs up a lot of debate about atmospheric pollution and regulation. Rocket launches pump out emissions, and the industry has to work through complicated approval processes that could change the future of commercial flights.
Space tourism rockets bring major environmental challenges, and researchers still don’t have all the answers. Virgin Galactic’s hybrid engines burn rubber and make a lot of black carbon soot. Just one suborbital flight pollutes about as much as a 10-hour transatlantic flight.
These emissions end up in the stratosphere and mesosphere, way above airline routes. The tiny soot particles can hang around for years, maybe even decades. Black carbon soaks up UV light and heats the stratosphere, which could mess with weather and jet streams.
Not all rockets pollute equally. Blue Origin’s New Shepard burns hydrogen and oxygen, mostly making water vapor. SpaceX uses hydrocarbon fuels, so their rockets put out more soot and greenhouse gases.
The space industry uses less than 1% of the world’s aviation fuel right now. But Northern Sky Research says we could see space tourism flights jump from 10 a year to 360 by 2030. Companies like Virgin Galactic want to fly several times a day, almost like airlines.
Some companies are chasing cleaner fuels. They’re looking at bio-hydrogen and methane to cut rocket emissions.
The Federal Aviation Administration handles commercial spaceflight licensing in the U.S. Companies must get launch licenses, operator permits, and meet safety rules before flying people. This process can drag on for months or even years.
Environmental reviews make things even trickier. Launch sites need studies on noise, wildlife, and air quality. Places like Spaceport America have to show they won’t seriously harm the local ecosystem.
International rules add more headaches. Rockets cross multiple countries’ airspace and need clearance from different aviation authorities. The industry works with groups like the International Civil Aviation Organization to try and set consistent standards.
Right now, most regulations focus on safety, not the environment. Researchers at NOAA and NASA keep calling for more studies to track rocket emissions and their effects. Future rules might limit certain fuels or force companies to offset their environmental impact.
The regulatory landscape is still changing as space tourism grows in more places.
Tourist spacecraft tech is moving fast, with companies pouring billions into next-gen vehicles. Big leaps in reusability, safety, and how many people can fly will totally change commercial space travel in the next decade.
Space tourism companies keep working on new tech to make civilian spaceflight safer and cheaper. Reusable rockets are leading the way. SpaceX’s Starship could carry up to 100 people at once. That kind of scale could really bring costs down.
Advanced life support is another huge step. New ships have backup oxygen, better temperature control, and stronger radiation protection. That means longer trips and safer flights.
Automated flight controls take a lot of human error out of the equation. Modern tourist spacecraft use AI navigation and emergency protocols. Passengers get smoother rides, and docking at space stations becomes almost routine.
Hybrid propulsion mixes rocket engines with air-breathing tech. Virgin Galactic’s next-gen spaceplanes will go higher and let people float longer. These engines should lower fuel costs and cut down on pollution.
Companies are also thinking about passenger comfort. New ships have bigger windows, better seats, and improved waste systems. Some designs even spin to create artificial gravity for longer stays in orbit.
Several companies are close to launching new spacecraft. Blue Origin’s New Glenn will take passengers to orbit, not just the quick suborbital hops New Shepard does now. This could mean multi-day trips, maybe even to space hotels.
SpaceX is pushing ahead with Starship for lunar trips. This ship could take dozens of people around the Moon. The first customers will be wealthy, but the hope is to open it up to more folks later.
Axiom Space’s commercial station modules are coming soon. They’ll connect to the current space station but offer luxury stays. Weeks in space, instead of just a few hours.
Virgin Galactic wants to fly Delta-class spaceplanes that outperform their current ones. They’ll fly more often, with less downtime between trips. Engines will be more powerful, so passengers get longer weightless stretches.
Some companies are working on point-to-point Earth travel using spacecraft. Imagine flying between continents in under an hour. It’s mainly for transportation, but you still get a taste of weightlessness.
Space elevators and orbital rings sound like sci-fi, but researchers haven’t given up. Maybe one day, getting to space could be as common as flying across the country.
People thinking about space tourism have a lot of questions about safety, training, and the price tag. Here are some practical answers for anyone considering commercial space travel.
Spaceflight companies take safety seriously and have several layers of protocols to protect passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration demands a lot of testing and certification before anyone can fly for money.
Spacecraft use automated systems to cut down on human mistakes, especially during launch and reentry. Blue Origin’s New Shepard and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo both ran dozens of uncrewed test flights before letting people on board.
If something goes wrong, emergency escape systems can pull the capsule away from the rocket in seconds. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has a launch escape system for just that reason.
Life support keeps cabin pressure and air quality safe. There are backup oxygen tanks and CO2 scrubbers in case the main systems fail.
Ground teams watch every part of the flight in real time. Mission control can talk to passengers and tweak flight plans if something unexpected comes up.
Suborbital flights take about 10 to 15 minutes from launch to landing. Virgin Galactic gives passengers roughly four minutes of weightlessness before heading back down.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard offers about three minutes of zero gravity. The whole ride, liftoff to touchdown, is around 11 minutes.
Orbital trips are a different story. SpaceX’s Inspiration4 kept civilian astronauts in orbit for three days.
Space station visits can stretch from a few days to a couple of weeks. Axiom Space usually plans for 8 to 10 days on the International Space Station.
Lunar tourism, when it finally happens, could take 6 to 8 days round-trip. That includes several days just getting there and back.
Space tourists have to pass medical checks a lot like private pilots do. Most companies want people in generally good health, with no major heart issues.
Age limits depend on the company, but most will fly people from 18 up to 75. Virgin Galactic has even flown folks in their 80s who cleared the health checks.
Suborbital flights push up to 3.5 Gs during launch and reentry. Passengers need to handle those forces without passing out or feeling too rough.
Orbital missions require more fitness, since zero gravity lasts longer. Extended weightlessness can mess with your bones, muscles, and heart.
If you have heart disease, epilepsy, or severe claustrophobia, you might not qualify. Companies look at each passenger’s medical history on a case-by-case basis.
Virgin Galactic brings tourists to Spaceport America in New Mexico for three days of training. They walk you through safety procedures, run emergency drills, and let you try out G-force simulations.
Blue Origin handles things a bit differently, with two days of training. You’ll get familiar with the spacecraft, listen to safety briefings, and practice climbing in and out of your seat while wearing a spacesuit. It’s not as intense, but it covers the basics.
SpaceX doesn’t mess around—if you’re flying with them, you’ll spend months training, just like professional astronauts. You’ll learn how to operate the spacecraft, handle emergencies, and even run some basic science experiments.
Training often features centrifuge sessions. These simulate the launch and reentry G-forces you’ll feel in space, but in a safe, controlled setting.
You’ll also run through emergency evacuation drills. The crew shows you how to exit the spacecraft fast if something goes wrong on the launch pad. It’s a bit like airline safety demos, but with a space twist.
A suborbital flight with Virgin Galactic will set you back $450,000 per seat. That price covers the flight itself, your training, and a spacesuit rental.
Blue Origin hasn’t officially posted ticket prices. Industry folks guess it’s in the same range as Virgin Galactic, but early auction seats went for as much as $28 million.
SpaceX charges between $55 million and $200 million per passenger for orbital missions. The price depends on how long you’ll be in space, and it includes months of training and all the life support you’ll need.
Axiom Space offers trips to the space station at about $55 million per person for an 8-day stay. That covers your ride, training, meals, and station fees.
If you’re dreaming about visiting the Moon, future lunar tourism could cost anywhere from $150 million to $500 million per passenger. Those numbers reflect the huge effort and time it takes to get there and back.
Virgin Galactic runs suborbital flights from Spaceport America with its SpaceShipTwo vehicle. They started flying paying customers in 2023 and keep up with regular flights.
Blue Origin gives people suborbital rides on its New Shepard rocket out in West Texas. They’ve already flown several crews with paying passengers.
SpaceX sends private crews into orbit using the Crew Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center. Sometimes, they fly people to the International Space Station, and sometimes it’s just an independent trip around Earth.
Axiom Space sets up visits to the International Space Station for private customers, working with SpaceX for the ride. They say they’ll launch their own commercial space station by 2030—pretty ambitious, right?
Boeing plans to fly space tourists on its Starliner spacecraft to orbital destinations. They’re still working through certification testing before they open up for commercial passengers.