Space tourism prices swing wildly depending on what kind of adventure you’re after. If you just want a quick suborbital hop, you’ll pay around $250,000, but if you’re dreaming of orbiting Earth, get ready to shell out over $55 million.
Suborbital flights are, honestly, the easiest way to dip your toes into space tourism. Most of these trips cost between $250,000 and $500,000 per person.
Virgin Galactic sets their suborbital flights at $450,000 per seat. You’ll float in weightlessness for about 4 minutes and climb higher than 50 miles above Earth.
Blue Origin sells New Shepard flights for $200,000 to $300,000. These rides last about 10 minutes and cross the Karman line at 62 miles up.
Both companies deliver similar thrills—just a handful of minutes in space, with the whole trip wrapping up in roughly 90 minutes.
Prices shift based on demand and when you book. Some early buyers paid more, but as more flights happen, the cost might actually drop.
Orbital flights sit at the top of the luxury ladder, with prices soaring into the tens of millions. These missions let you stay in space for days or even weeks.
SpaceX charges about $55 million per seat for International Space Station trips. Depending on the mission, you could spend several days or even weeks up there.
Private orbital flights in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule cost about the same. The Inspiration4 mission showed what’s possible for civilians, with passengers spending multiple days in orbit.
Boeing’s Starliner and other commercial crew vehicles offer similar price tags. If you’re going orbital, expect months of pre-flight training.
These sky-high prices come from the complexity of orbital travel and all the life support gear needed. Passengers go through full astronaut training and medical checks before flying.
Lunar tourism is still on the horizon, but estimates put the price north of $100 million per person. SpaceX’s Starship might make these first civilian Moon trips a reality in the next decade.
The dearMoon project, which started as a free artist mission, highlights just how massive these lunar tourism investments can get. If you want to go, you’ll need deep pockets.
Lunar trips take about a week and involve tricky maneuvers around the Moon. You get jaw-dropping views of Earth and a shot at lunar exploration.
Most current projects focus on orbiting the Moon, not landing. Actually touching the surface would cost a lot more, thanks to all the extra tech involved.
Visiting the International Space Station with a commercial provider will set you back $20 million to $55 million per person. That covers your ride, your stay, and basic life support.
Axiom Space puts together private ISS missions lasting 8-12 days. If you want to stay longer or do special research, expect to pay extra.
It costs about $2 million per day for room, board, and basic facilities on the ISS. Doing science experiments or adding special services? Those come with their own price tags.
Future commercial space stations might shake up these prices. Axiom Station and other new projects hope to bring costs down with tourist-focused infrastructure.
Staying on a private space station still means you’ll train like a real astronaut. You’ll need medical clearance and be in good physical shape, just like the pros.
Space tourism ticket prices are all over the map. The three big commercial players charge anywhere from $450,000 up to more than $5 million a seat. Blue Origin sits at the more affordable end for suborbital rides, while SpaceX asks top dollar for their multi-day orbital adventures.
Virgin Galactic goes after the luxury adventure crowd with suborbital flights on SpaceShipTwo. They charge $450,000 per seat for a 90-minute trip, including about four minutes of weightlessness.
You’ll hit about 50 miles above Earth, right at the edge of space by U.S. standards. The view? You’ll see Earth’s curve and the darkness of space.
You’ll need a deposit to lock in your spot. Virgin Galactic has hit some bumps and delays in commercial operations, and they aren’t flying as often as airlines—yet.
Your ticket covers astronaut training at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Training covers safety and what to expect. Medical requirements aren’t as tough as for orbital missions.
Blue Origin makes space tourism a bit more accessible with New Shepard. Tickets run $250,000 to $300,000 for an 11-minute suborbital flight.
The capsule climbs past 62 miles, crossing the Karman line—so, officially “space.” You’ll get about three minutes to float around.
Blue Origin wants to fly more people, more often. Their goal is monthly launches, with six passengers per flight.
Training is pretty minimal; you’ll do most of it on launch day. The capsule’s huge windows make for epic Earth views.
Flights launch from West Texas. Blue Origin has racked up a bunch of uncrewed test flights, and their safety record helps keep prices competitive.
SpaceX sits at the top of the price list for commercial space tourism. Multi-day orbital missions cost $55 million to $200 million per seat, depending on how long you stay and where you’re headed.
The Crew Dragon capsule lets you orbit Earth at about 250 miles up, for several days at a time. That means a lot more time in microgravity.
SpaceX’s prices reflect just how complicated orbital flight really is. Passengers train for months, and medical standards are on par with NASA astronauts.
Private missions like Inspiration4 cost around $200 million for four people. Space station visits through Axiom Space run $55 million per person for a 10-day stay.
SpaceX relies on Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon capsules—the same gear that carries NASA astronauts. They stick to government-level safety standards.
A few new companies are offering different takes on space tourism at lower prices. Space Perspective plans stratospheric balloon rides for $125,000 per person, starting in late 2024.
Axiom Space teams up with SpaceX for private space station trips. Their prices match SpaceX’s $55 million per seat. They’re also working on their own commercial station.
World View is building high-altitude balloon experiences for about $50,000 each. These flights hit 100,000 feet—high, but not quite space. You’ll spend a few hours above 99% of the atmosphere.
These options target folks who want a taste of space without the huge price tag. Balloon rides need very little training and have looser medical rules. Plus, they skip a lot of the red tape that comes with rockets.
Space tourism prices aren’t set in stone—they swing wildly based on a few big factors. The tech behind the spacecraft, the kind of mission you pick, and just how much demand there is all play a big role.
Spacecraft tech really drives costs. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic have poured billions into reusable rockets, advanced life support, and safety systems that have to work perfectly in space.
Reusable rockets help cut costs per launch compared to old-school expendable vehicles. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Blue Origin’s New Shepard prove that reusability changes the game, though building them isn’t cheap.
Safety features add even more to the price. Triple-redundant life support, emergency escape pods, and radiation shielding all require high-end engineering and loads of testing.
Propulsion matters too. Chemical rockets for orbital flights cost way more to run than the hybrid engines in suborbital craft. That’s a big reason Virgin Galactic tickets are cheaper than SpaceX’s orbital trips.
Your mission profile makes a huge difference in price. Suborbital flights last 10-15 minutes and run a few hundred thousand dollars. If you want to spend days in orbit, you’re looking at tens of millions.
Suborbital flights to 62 miles up offer weightlessness and killer views for $250,000-$450,000. They need less fuel and simpler gear than orbital trips.
Orbital missions require much more energy to hit 17,500 mph and stay in space. That means a lot more fuel and way more complicated spacecraft.
Where you go matters. Visiting the International Space Station adds $35,000 a night for your stay, plus $20 million or more for the ride. Future lunar trips will cost even more because of the advanced hardware and longer journey.
Right now, space tourism is a seller’s market. Wealthy thrill-seekers compete for a handful of seats. Virgin Galactic has over 800 reservations even with $450,000 tickets—so, yeah, there’s demand.
Competition does help. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic go head-to-head for suborbital customers. SpaceX rules the orbital game, with only a few rivals worldwide.
As more flights happen and companies get better at operations, prices could fall. Early customers pay top dollar, helping cover development costs, just like in the early days of air travel.
Over time, as the market matures, more people might get a shot. Some experts think suborbital flights could dip into the low six figures in the next decade, once companies ramp up and iron out the details.
Space tourism companies use a mix of pricing tactics to fill seats. Most set fixed prices, some ask for hefty deposits, and lots bundle in training or luxury perks.
Virgin Galactic lists suborbital flights at $450,000 per seat. Blue Origin sells New Shepard tickets for $200,000 to $300,000. SpaceX sets orbital seats between $55 million and $75 million.
Fixed prices make things straightforward. You know exactly what you’ll pay when you book.
Sometimes, companies try auctions for special seats. Blue Origin auctioned one seat for $28 million in 2021. It can drive prices up, but it’s unpredictable for most buyers.
Space Perspective keeps things simple with fixed pricing at $125,000 for their balloon flights. Their pitch is to make space-adjacent experiences more affordable than rockets.
Most companies stick with fixed prices. It builds trust and makes budgeting easier for would-be space tourists.
Virgin Galactic asks for a $150,000 deposit to hold your spot. Blue Origin wants $25,000 up front to join their waitlist. You’ll pay the balance closer to your flight date.
SpaceX requires bigger deposits for orbital trips. Private customers usually pay 25% to 50% up front, with the rest due 60 to 90 days before launch.
Deposits help companies avoid last-minute cancellations and give them working capital. It also shows you’re serious about going.
Most providers offer refundable deposits if you cancel early enough. Virgin Galactic gives refunds up to 90 days before your flight. Blue Origin has similar policies but might be a bit stricter.
Space tourism companies bundle training, accommodations, and experiences into all-in-one packages. Virgin Galactic gives you three days of prep at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Blue Origin always includes training sessions and safety briefings.
Premium packages tack on $15,000 to $50,000. You get personalized spacesuits, pro photography, longer training, and luxury accommodations. Some companies even let you upgrade to a window seat, but that’ll cost you another $15,000 to $30,000.
SpaceX builds custom packages for its orbital missions. Private flights come with crew training, mission planning, and ground support. These deals can run into hundreds of millions if you want to charter the whole spacecraft.
Training is a big part of the package. Medical screenings set you back $5,000 to $10,000. Zero gravity prep costs $5,000 to $7,500. Centrifuge training adds another $3,000 to $8,000.
Many deals now include insurance options. Basic coverage costs $5,000 to $10,000 and covers medical emergencies or flight cancellations.
Space tourism tickets cover a lot more than just the flight. Companies usually throw in training programs, medical evaluations, and specialized equipment. What you get in-flight really depends on your mission type and how long it lasts.
Space tourism companies require you to pass some pretty thorough medical checks before you can board. These screenings cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per person. You’ll go through cardiovascular stress tests, psychological evaluations, and fitness checks.
Medical teams run blood work, vision tests, and balance exams. Doctors look for anything that could cause problems during high g-forces or weightlessness. If the first round of tests shows something odd, you might need extra screening.
Training adds another $3,000 to $8,000. Centrifuge training gets you ready for the intense forces of launch and reentry. Zero gravity flights let you feel weightlessness before the real thing.
Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have different training lengths. Suborbital passengers usually finish prep in 2-3 days. Orbital space travel takes weeks or months—almost like astronaut boot camp.
Custom-fitted spacesuits cost a lot, usually $15,000 to $25,000 per passenger. Companies measure you and test the suit several times before flight day. These suits have life support systems and emergency oxygen.
Safety briefings teach you emergency procedures, spacecraft systems, and how to communicate in space. You’ll learn to handle equipment and deal with different scenarios. Most companies make you pass written and practical tests.
Launch operations coordination adds big costs, split among all passengers. Weather monitoring, air traffic control, and ground crew management can run $1 to $2 million per mission. Fuel alone costs $200,000 to $600,000, depending on the spacecraft.
Suborbital flights with Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin offer big windows and special seating. You’ll float during weightlessness and can snap photos or do simple experiments. Flights last 10 to 15 minutes above the atmosphere.
Orbital space travel gives you way more. SpaceX Crew Dragon missions include sleeping quarters, food, and systems for calling home. You’ll see multiple sunrises and sunsets on these multi-day trips.
Space tourism companies usually provide insurance coverage worth $5,000 to $10,000 per passenger. This protects against medical emergencies, equipment failures, and mission cancellations. Some even offer post-flight medical checks and keepsakes like certificates or patches.
Space tourism is still wildly expensive for most folks, with current prices running from $450,000 up to $55 million per seat. Payment plans and future tech might make it more accessible someday, but we’re not there yet.
Most space tourism companies now let you pay in installments to lower the up-front cost. Usually, you’ll put down 10-20% as a deposit, then pay the rest over 18 months to 3 years.
Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have structured payment plans. You can spread the cost out over several years before your flight. Some companies team up with financing partners to offer loans.
Corporate bookings offer another way in. Companies buy multiple seats for employee perks or marketing. Group pricing can lower the per-person cost.
Current financing methods include:
The industry keeps inventing new ways to pay. Some companies are looking at membership programs and loyalty points, like luxury travel clubs.
Experts predict prices will drop as rocket tech improves and flights become more common. Reusable rockets from SpaceX and Blue Origin cut costs compared to old-school launches.
Competition is pushing companies to innovate and cut prices too. More players in the market means more pressure to lower costs for customers.
What could lower prices:
Suborbital flights might drop to $100,000-$200,000 within a decade. Orbital trips will probably stay pricey because they’re longer and more complex.
Most analysts guess we’ll see real price drops in the 2030s. It all depends on safety rules, tech progress, and whether enough people actually want to go.
The commercial space tourism scene really revolves around three big names, each with their own style and tech. Virgin Galactic chases the luxury adventure crowd with suborbital flights. Blue Origin bets on reliable reusable rockets. SpaceX leads the orbital game with its Crew Dragon system.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic runs the first commercial spaceline, using a unique air-launched spacecraft system. The VSS Unity spaceplane drops from a carrier jet at high altitude, then rockets passengers to the edge of space for a few minutes of weightlessness.
Ticket prices have settled at around $450,000 for current flights. You get a multi-day training program at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Passengers enjoy about four minutes of microgravity and see Earth’s curve from 50 miles up.
Virgin Galactic cares a lot about the full customer journey, not just the flight. Training covers spaceflight prep, G-force conditioning, and safety. They’re after high-net-worth folks who want a luxury adventure with personalized service from start to finish.
Jeff Bezos started Blue Origin, which runs the New Shepard rocket for space tourism. This fully automated capsule takes six passengers up over 62 miles. The flight lasts about 11 minutes, with four minutes of weightlessness.
They haven’t revealed regular ticket prices, but most estimates land between $200,000 and $300,000 per seat. New Shepard focuses on safety, with an abort system and lots of backups. The windows are huge, so you get a killer view.
Blue Origin aims for reliability and frequent flights. New Shepard has done plenty of uncrewed and crewed tests, showing it can deliver safe, repeatable trips. They target people who want a straightforward space ride—no long training, no fuss.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX offers orbital space tourism with its Crew Dragon and Falcon 9. These trips last several days in orbit—way beyond the brief suborbital hops. Crew Dragon fits up to four civilians per mission.
A seat costs $50 million to $55 million, so this is ultra-luxury territory. The Inspiration4 mission proved SpaceX can run all-civilian orbital flights, with lots of Earth views and science experiments.
Flights launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and you’ll need months of astronaut training. You get continuous microgravity, sleep in space, and orbit Earth every 90 minutes. SpaceX’s NASA track record gives people confidence in their safety.
Boeing built the Starliner spacecraft for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, but tourism flights aren’t ready yet. They’re focused on astronaut transport for now, though they might open up to civilians once things are running smoothly.
Space Adventures still offers orbital flights through deals with international agencies, but those cost over $50 million per seat. Axiom Space is building commercial space station modules and plans civilian missions by the late 2020s.
Axiom and other new players want to create luxury orbital tourism, including space hotels. These companies hope to offer longer stays in purpose-built stations, with amenities just for regular folks—not just astronauts.
Today’s space tourism industry runs on three main kinds of spacecraft, each built for a different experience and price point. These vehicles use advanced reusable technologies that make civilian space travel possible.
Space tourism companies use different spacecraft types for different missions. Suborbital vehicles like Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo and Blue Origin’s New Shepard take passengers to the edge of space for a quick taste of weightlessness.
Orbital spacecraft are the high-end option. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon carries civilians to the International Space Station or private missions. These cost much more but give you days in space.
Zero-gravity aircraft are the most affordable. Companies like Zero-G Corporation use modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness with parabolic flight paths. These flights go up to about 10 kilometers—so, not technically space, but you still float.
Each type needs different safety certifications from the FAA. Suborbital and orbital vehicles face stricter rules than aircraft-based experiences.
The kind of spacecraft you choose really shapes your experience, the training you’ll need, and how much you’ll pay.
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo stands out with its air-launch system. It drops from the WhiteKnightTwo carrier plane at 50,000 feet.
The cabin fits six passengers and two pilots, all in a pressurized space. Huge windows let you soak up the views during the space portion. The spacecraft hits Mach 3.5 and climbs above 80 kilometers.
Safety-wise, it’s got a feathering system that rotates the tail up during reentry, keeping things stable without tricky pilot moves. The cabin stays comfortable—no spacesuits needed inside.
The rocket motor burns for about a minute, using a hybrid of solid fuel and liquid oxidizer. This combo is safer than traditional liquid rockets.
You’ll get around four minutes of weightlessness at the top. The whole trip takes about 90 minutes, from takeoff to landing.
Reusable spacecraft technology keeps space tourism costs lower since companies don’t have to build new vehicles for every flight. Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket actually lands itself vertically after its passenger capsule separates, so they can just use the booster again.
SpaceX took orbital reusability to the next level with its Falcon 9 rockets. The first stage comes back down and lands on a drone ship or landing pad. This move slashes launch costs by as much as 90 percent compared to rockets that get thrown away.
Crew Dragon capsules can fly several missions if they get a good overhaul. NASA and SpaceX have shown they can reuse both crew and cargo capsules. After each flight, teams give every capsule a serious inspection and run tests before sending it up again.
Virgin Galactic does things differently. They use a spaceplane that lands on a regular runway, just like an airplane. No need for tricky ocean recoveries or nail-biting rocket landings.
With these reusable designs, space tourism companies can fly more often and charge less per seat. The industry keeps pushing for better reusable systems to make civilian space travel more accessible.
Federal aviation authorities set strict licensing requirements for commercial spaceflight. These rules affect ticket prices directly. International agreements create shared safety standards, and every extra rule adds costs that companies end up passing on to passengers.
The Federal Aviation Administration has the final say on commercial space launches in the U.S. Companies need launch licenses that run into the hundreds of thousands, plus a mountain of safety documentation.
The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation checks every detail of spacecraft design and operations. This review can drag on for months or even years. Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have poured millions into meeting these demands.
License fees are just the tip of the iceberg. Companies hire legal teams and safety engineers. They also buy insurance policies that cost millions every year.
The FAA wants to see detailed flight plans for every launch. Operators show that their spacecraft won’t interfere with regular air traffic. These steps shrink launch windows and make operations more complicated.
Some recent policy changes have sped up approval for proven designs. The FAA now reviews repeat vehicles faster, which helps established companies but still makes things tough for newcomers.
NASA teams up with commercial space companies through the Commercial Crew Program. These partnerships give companies technical help, but NASA’s safety standards are famously tough.
International space law says operators have to register spacecraft with their home countries. The Outer Space Treaty sets up liability rules, which drive up insurance costs. Companies need coverage for possible damage to other nations’ space assets.
The Space Data Association tracks orbital debris for its members. Commercial operators pay fees to get this crucial safety info. These fees go straight into the cost of every mission.
European and Asian space agencies have their own rules. Companies that want to operate globally have to jump through multiple regulatory hoops. This legal maze drives up compliance costs in a big way.
Trade agreements between spacefaring countries also affect the price of equipment. Import duties on specialized parts can raise manufacturing costs, which then show up in passenger pricing.
Companies have to build in backup systems for life support, navigation, and communications—no way around it. These redundancies push up manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Crew training requirements mean operators run simulators and keep medical staff on hand. They need certified facilities and regular training sessions. All of this adds to the ticket price.
Flight suits and safety gear must meet strict aerospace specs. Each passenger gets custom-fitted equipment, and it’s not cheap. Companies usually bundle these costs into the base fare.
Emergency response readiness means operators keep rescue teams and specialized gear at launch sites. They also set up deals with hospitals that can handle space-related injuries.
Insurance premiums are sky-high due to the risks of space tourism. Companies spend millions every year on passenger liability coverage. This expense is a big part of why tickets cost so much.
Private space companies now launch far more than just tourist flights. Their missions range from scientific research and commercial satellite launches to bold exploration projects aimed at the Moon and Mars.
Private companies run missions for both science and business. SpaceX, for example, regularly sends cargo to the International Space Station through NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services.
Blue Origin runs research flights that bring scientific experiments into microgravity. They test everything from new medicines to materials science in space.
Commercial satellite launches are the biggest money-maker for private space companies. SpaceX alone has sent up thousands of Starlink satellites to build out global internet.
Key Mission Types:
Virgin Galactic also runs research flights. Scientists use these to study the atmosphere and space weather, which helps improve safety for future tourists.
Private companies now compete with government agencies in space exploration. SpaceX built the Crew Dragon to ferry astronauts to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
SpaceX charges about $55 million per seat for these orbital missions, making private exploration cheaper than old-school government programs.
Blue Origin is working on lunar exploration with its Blue Moon lander. They want to help NASA’s Artemis program by delivering cargo and equipment to the Moon.
Virgin Galactic plans to expand into orbital research flights, carrying scientific payloads and running experiments in Earth orbit.
Private exploration missions generate valuable data for future tourism. Companies use these lessons to improve spacecraft and safety.
Lunar missions are the next big leap for private space companies. SpaceX wants to use Starship for Moon landings and, eventually, Mars trips.
NASA picked SpaceX to provide the lunar lander for Artemis. This contract shows how private companies now take on complex exploration jobs.
Blue Origin is also chasing lunar contracts with its Blue Moon lander. They’re targeting cargo deliveries and, eventually, crewed missions to the Moon.
Lunar Mission Goals:
Private lunar missions will lay the groundwork for more space tourism. These trips test life support and landing tech that will eventually carry paying customers.
Virgin Galactic is looking at lunar tourism partnerships, hoping to launch these flights within the next decade. They see lunar travel as the logical next step after suborbital tourism.
Space tourism has shaken up aerospace, shifting it from a government-only world to a booming commercial sector. Now, the industry pulls in billions in private investment and sparks rapid tech advances and fresh economic opportunities in all sorts of fields.
Space tourism draws big money from private investors and billionaire founders. Blue Origin gets about $1 billion a year from Jeff Bezos, while Virgin Galactic has raised hundreds of millions on the stock market.
It’s not just the main companies. Suppliers and service providers see more orders for specialized parts and ground support gear. Launch sites and maintenance facilities get busier too.
Some estimates say the space tourism industry could hit $800 billion by 2030. That kind of growth means more jobs for engineers, pilots, and support crews. New roles are popping up, like space tourism guides and zero-gravity trainers.
When early ventures succeed, more companies jump in. The extra competition pushes innovation and, over time, helps bring down costs for customers.
Reusable rockets have changed the game, mostly thanks to space tourism. SpaceX led the way with Falcon 9 boosters that land and fly again. Blue Origin’s New Shepard does something similar.
Manufacturing has shifted to keep up. 3D printing speeds up production of lightweight parts. Computer-aided design helps companies build and test new vehicles faster.
Propulsion systems are getting better. Electric propulsion boosts efficiency for orbital vehicles. Hybrid motors make suborbital flights safer for passengers.
Safety tech moves fast because passengers expect it. Emergency escape systems, redundant life support, and automated controls get a lot of funding. These upgrades help all space missions, not just tourist flights.
Space tourism brings a ripple effect to local economies near launch sites. Florida’s Space Coast sees more tourists, hotel bookings, and restaurant business during launches. Mojave, California benefits from Virgin Galactic activity.
Schools and colleges roll out new programs for space tourism careers. Flight schools add zero-gravity classes. Universities even launch aerospace tourism degrees that mix engineering with hospitality.
Travel companies adapt, too. Luxury hotels near launch sites offer special packages. Agencies start specializing in booking and prepping space tourists.
Insurance companies create new policies for passenger spaceflight. Legal systems update to handle liability and international rules for space tourism.
Supply chains grow to support the industry. Materials suppliers ramp up production of heat-resistant fabrics and lightweight composites. Electronics companies design space-rated gear for passenger vehicles.
Getting ready for space travel isn’t quick. Most people spend months in physical prep and medical screening. The whole process, from booking to launch, usually takes 6-12 months depending on the company and the type of flight.
Space tourists go through a full medical check before they get cleared for flight. Companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin ask for heart tests, vision checks, and psychological assessments to make sure everyone can handle the ride.
Basic fitness standards include normal blood pressure, no heart conditions, and being able to handle up to 3.5 Gs. Most operators take passengers from 18 up to 75, though some are pickier about age.
Medical screenings cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per person. The tests look for anything that could turn dangerous in microgravity—things like kidney stones or serious motion sickness.
Space Adventures, which sent people to the International Space Station, had the strictest medical checks. Their clients spent six months getting into shape and going through constant monitoring.
Training covers a lot: centrifuge rides to simulate launch forces, zero-gravity flights on special planes, and emergency drills. Virgin Galactic, for example, puts passengers through three days of training at Spaceport America.
The prep process kicks off right after you book your seat. Companies schedule your first medical exam within 30 days of your deposit, so there’s time to work out any health issues before the main clearance.
Month 1-2: You’ll do medical and fitness checks and get briefed on spacecraft systems and safety basics.
Month 3-4: Physical training ramps up. You might do centrifuge runs and parabolic flights. Blue Origin trains people in West Texas, and Virgin Galactic uses Mojave Air and Space Port.
Month 5-6: You’ll get your final medical clearance and practice emergency procedures. Passengers rehearse getting in and out of the spacecraft in pressure suits.
SpaceX orbital missions take even longer—up to 12 months of prep—because multi-day flights are much more complex. These passengers train with professional astronauts and use NASA-grade simulators.
Space tourism prices really jump around depending on altitude, trip length, and what you actually do up there. Right now, tickets go from $8,000 for zero-gravity flights all the way up to $55 million-plus for orbital missions.
There are a few options in between, but those are the extremes.
Virgin Galactic charges $450,000 per seat for their suborbital flights. That price gets you a 90-minute experience, with about 10 to 15 minutes above the edge of space.
Passengers cross into space at roughly 85 kilometers altitude. You’ll get to feel weightless and see the curve of Earth—pretty wild.
The ticket includes a couple days of pre-flight training. Virgin Galactic flies a rocket-powered spaceplane, which launches from a carrier aircraft.
Zero-gravity flights are the most budget-friendly way to get a taste of space, running $8,000 to $10,000 per person. These flights use special aircraft to create 15 to 20 bursts of weightlessness, though you never actually leave the atmosphere.
The planes climb to about 10 kilometers, pulling off parabolic maneuvers. Training is pretty light—usually just an hour or two.
Space Perspective plans to offer balloon flights to the edge of space for around $125,000. You’ll get long, panoramic views from high up, and you don’t need to deal with rockets.
Suborbital flights generally cost between $250,000 and $500,000, depending on who you book with. Blue Origin’s New Shepard falls in this range, while Virgin Galactic sits at $450,000.
Orbital missions? Those start at $55 million per person with companies like SpaceX and Axiom Space. These trips last 8 to 10 days and include time on the International Space Station.
Orbital flights demand way more energy and last much longer, so the price jumps. You’ll also need months of astronaut-level training for orbital missions, not just a few days.
Planned trips around the Moon are expected to cost at least $100 million per person. These missions loop around the Moon in 6 to 10 days, but don’t actually land.
Low Earth orbit trips with SpaceX run about $55 million per person. Those flights usually last 8 to 10 days at about 400 kilometers up.
That huge price gap? It comes down to the extra fuel, life support, and radiation shielding you need for deep space. And, honestly, preparing for a moon trip takes a lot more training.
Suborbital flights spend most of the money on spacecraft operations, safety systems, and ground support. Training takes up a smaller slice since prep time is short.
Orbital missions split costs between spacecraft rental, life support, crew training, and mission operations. Training alone can eat up 20 to 30 percent of the budget because it takes months.
You’ll also pay extra for insurance, medical checks, and spacesuit fittings. Ground transport, hotels, and support staff add more to the final total.
You’ll probably pay several thousand dollars for medical exams and fitness checks before you even get the green light to fly. Some companies roll these costs into their main price, but not all of them do.
Getting to training and launch sites isn’t cheap either. Most training centers sit way out at remote spaceports, so you’ll likely rack up travel and hotel bills for an extended stay.
Insurance is another thing to consider. Depending on your current coverage, you might need to pay extra premiums. A few space tourism companies now offer optional insurance packages for things like medical emergencies or unexpected flight delays.
