Space tourism means recreational travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere for regular people, not astronauts on government missions. It started as a wild idea in early 20th-century science fiction, but private companies and NASA partnerships have slowly made it real.
Space tourism is just human space travel for fun—not for science or government work. The industry actually offers a few different kinds of experiences for regular folks.
Suborbital flights take passengers just above 50 miles, right to the edge of space. These rides last only minutes, but you get to float and see Earth’s curve.
Orbital tourism goes farther. The spacecraft circles Earth several times, so you get days or even weeks of weightlessness.
Lunar tourism could be next, with trips around the Moon or maybe even landings. But that’s still a dream for most, since it needs much more advanced technology and training.
Companies like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX have started offering these trips. Passengers go through medical checks and basic training before heading up.
People started talking about space tourism back in the 1960s during the Apollo era. The Moon landings got everyone thinking—could regular folks do this someday?
Science fiction writers and engineers in the 1970s dreamed up commercial space flight—space hotels, routine trips, all that. It sounded wild but exciting.
By the 1980s, companies like Space Services Inc. actually tried to make it happen. They pitched business plans, but honestly, they just didn’t have the money or tech yet.
In the 1990s, NASA took a closer look at space tourism. They figured civilian flights might help fund space programs and get more people interested.
After the Soviet Union collapsed, Russian officials started welcoming paying passengers in the late ’90s. They needed the cash to keep their space program alive.
Space tourism finally went from dream to reality thanks to some big moments. Dennis Tito’s 2001 trip was the first real space tourism mission.
2001: Tito paid $20 million to spend eight days on the International Space Station, riding a Russian Soyuz. He showed that, with enough training, regular people could handle space.
2004: The Ansari X Prize gave $10 million to the first private spacecraft team that reached space twice in two weeks. SpaceShipOne won, proving reusable spacecraft could work.
2004-2009: Six more paying passengers followed Tito to the space station through Space Adventures. These flights turned orbital tourism into a real business.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program later let private companies fly astronauts and civilians. This changed everything, opening up new options beyond Russian spacecraft.
The X Prize win got investors excited about space tourism. Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and a bunch of others started popping up after that.
On April 28, 2001, Dennis Tito launched on a Russian Soyuz, paying $20 million to become the first civilian space tourist to visit the International Space Station. Space Adventures set up this bold eight-day mission, showing commercial space tourism could really work.
Tito’s flight started with Soyuz TM-32 on April 28, 2001. He was a 60-year-old American businessman who spent almost eight days in orbit as part of the ISS EP-1 visiting crew.
NASA officials pushed back hard. They said Tito didn’t have enough training and worried about an untested civilian on board during tricky operations.
Still, Tito put in eight months of training at Star City in Russia. He learned the basics—how to run the spacecraft and what to do in emergencies.
He spent about six days on the ISS after docking. Tito ran some simple experiments and helped with daily chores. The mission wrapped up with a safe landing in Kazakhstan on May 6, 2001.
Russia’s space agency backed Tito’s trip, even though other partners objected. Russia needed the money, so they took the risk. That decision kicked off the era of orbital space tourism.
Space Adventures played the middleman, connecting Tito with the Russian space program. The Virginia-based company handled all the tough negotiations with Russia’s Federal Space Agency.
Tom Shelley, Space Adventures’ president, organized Tito’s training and all the flight details. The company took care of everything from health checks to planning the mission.
Originally, Space Adventures planned for Tito to visit Russia’s Mir space station in 2000. But when Russia decided to deorbit Mir, they quickly switched gears and got Tito a seat on a Soyuz heading to the new International Space Station.
After Tito, Space Adventures kept going. They sent seven people on eight separate orbital flights through 2009, building a model that lasted for years.
Tito’s $20 million ride showed that people would pay huge sums for a shot at space. That got big-name entrepreneurs interested in commercial spaceflight.
Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk all jumped into the space game after Tito’s flight. Many in the industry say Tito inspired these billionaire space leaders. He proved regular folks could safely make the trip.
His mission made orbital space tourism a real market. Russia earned much-needed cash from later tourist flights, and selling commercial seats became normal for Soyuz missions.
NASA changed its mind over time, moving from resistance to support for private spaceflight. Now, NASA works closely with private companies on crew transport and station work.
Tito’s flight basically set the stage for today’s space tourism companies. Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX all built on what he started. The first space tourist really opened the door for civilians in space.
After Dennis Tito’s landmark trip in 2001, three other pioneers pushed commercial space travel even further. Mark Shuttleworth became the first African in orbit, Anousheh Ansari broke ground as the first female private space explorer, and Charles Simonyi proved space tourism can actually get repeat customers.
In April 2002, Mark Shuttleworth became the second paying space tourist and the first South African in space. At just 28, the entrepreneur paid about $20 million for his eight-day ride on a Russian Soyuz to the ISS.
Shuttleworth’s trip was more than a personal win. He showed that space tourism wasn’t just for American millionaires. He’d sold his company Thawte to VeriSign, then did tough training at Star City in Russia.
On the space station, Shuttleworth ran scientific experiments and snapped thousands of Earth photos. His mission helped make Space Adventures a legit space travel broker. Afterward, more wealthy thrill-seekers started seeing space as a real option.
In September 2006, Anousheh Ansari became the first female private space explorer and the fourth space tourist ever. The Iranian-American entrepreneur paid around $20 million for her 10-day ISS trip on a Soyuz.
Ansari was already a telecom exec and a space advocate—she co-sponsored the Ansari X Prize. Her flight inspired lots of women and girls to dream bigger in aerospace and tech.
Originally, Ansari was the backup. The main passenger was disqualified for medical reasons just months before launch, so Ansari jumped in and finished her training fast. On the ISS, she ran experiments and became the first person to blog from space.
Charles Simonyi, who helped create Microsoft Word and Excel, made history by flying to space not once but twice as a paying passenger. His first trip was in April 2007, and he went again in March 2009.
Simonyi paid about $25 million for his first 13-day mission. He loved it so much, he shelled out an estimated $35 million for a second ride. Both trips used Russian Soyuz spacecraft and showed that commercial spaceflight could handle repeat business.
His two missions proved that people might come back for more, even with the high price tag. The flights also showed how reliable the Soyuz system was for regular passengers. Simonyi ran science experiments and shared his experiences through educational outreach.
The International Space Station has become the main destination for commercial space travelers since 2001. Private companies work with space agencies to get civilians to this orbiting lab using tried-and-true spacecraft.
Space tourists get to the ISS through carefully planned missions using reliable spacecraft. From 2001 to 2009, Russia’s Soyuz capsules handled pretty much all the tourist traffic.
It all starts with serious training at places like Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Passengers spend months learning how to run the spacecraft and what to do in emergencies.
SpaceX changed things with its Crew Dragon capsule. Their reusable rockets cut costs compared to older methods.
Current ways to reach the ISS:
Launches follow strict safety routines. Passengers spend about three days traveling to the ISS, which orbits roughly 250 miles up.
Most modern missions carry 3-4 passengers. Docking is handled mostly by computers, requiring precise navigation.
Axiom Space leads today’s private ISS missions, flying the first fully private crew in 2022. The Ax-1 mission showed space tourists can do real research up there.
Tourists typically spend 8-10 days on the ISS. They work alongside astronauts—helping with meals, basic chores, and even some science.
What do tourists do?
The ISS can only handle six people at a time, so tourist spots are limited. Passengers sleep in small crew quarters and share common areas with the pros.
Commercial missions cost about $50-55 million per seat. That covers training, travel, and all your life support needs for the trip.
Lately, tourists from all over the world have joined these missions. The ISS remains the main platform for civilian space travel—at least until private space stations start flying.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, private companies started turning space tourism from a wild dream into something real. Space Adventures led the way with commercial orbital flights, sparking a wave of fresh ideas across the industry.
Space Adventures kicked off in 1998 and quickly became the first to send paying customers to space. They teamed up with the Russian Space Agency to run orbital flights on Soyuz spacecraft.
Dennis Tito made headlines in April 2001 as the world’s first space tourist. He paid $20 million for an eight-day stay at the International Space Station, thanks to Space Adventures. That moment showed everyone that civilians could actually travel to orbit.
NASA didn’t like the idea of private citizens visiting the ISS at first. They worried about safety and possible disruptions. Meanwhile, the Russian Space Agency welcomed the extra income from commercial passengers.
Between 2001 and 2009, Space Adventures sent seven private citizens to space. Each trip cost somewhere between $20 million and $40 million. These early flights proved commercial space travel could work.
Their success drew in other entrepreneurs. Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX all launched during this era, each hoping to open up space for more people.
The Ansari XPRIZE dangled a $10 million prize in 2004 for the first private team to launch a crewed vehicle to space twice in two weeks. That competition really kicked private spaceflight into high gear.
Scaled Composites snagged the prize with SpaceShipOne in October 2004. Their win showed that even small private companies could build safe, working spacecraft without government money. Virgin Galactic saw the potential and licensed the technology for commercial flights.
Twenty-six teams from all over the world jumped into the XPRIZE race. The contest pushed forward new ideas in reusable rockets and spacecraft design. Some participants later started their own space companies or joined bigger firms.
The XPRIZE really changed how people viewed private spaceflight. Suddenly, getting to space didn’t seem like something only big government programs could pull off. More investors got interested, and the stage was set for the space tourism industry we see today.
Virgin Galactic jumped into the suborbital tourism market with SpaceShipTwo and its unique air-launch system. Development wasn’t easy, but by 2023, the company started flying commercial passengers, with Richard Branson himself testing out the passenger experience.
Virgin Galactic built its program around SpaceShipTwo, which launches from a carrier plane instead of a typical rocket. Their first ship, VSS Enterprise, crashed in 2014 during a test, killing copilot Michael Alsbury and badly injuring pilot Peter Siebold.
That tragedy forced the company to make big changes to its safety systems. Engineers reinforced the feathering mechanism for safer re-entry and improved pilot training. They also automated more flight systems.
After tons of testing, VSS Unity became their main vehicle. It launches from WhiteKnightTwo, a twin-fuselage carrier that climbs to 50,000 feet before releasing SpaceShipTwo.
SpaceShipTwo takes up six passengers and two pilots per flight. The cabin has huge windows so you can see Earth’s curve and the darkness of space. At the peak—about 55 miles up—passengers get roughly four minutes of weightlessness.
Virgin Galactic runs flights out of Spaceport America in New Mexico. The spaceport has a long runway for WhiteKnightTwo and stylish passenger prep areas designed by Foster + Partners.
Virgin Galactic reached space for the first time in December 2018. SpaceShipTwo climbed above 50 miles, making it the first crewed vehicle to reach space from U.S. soil since the Space Shuttle’s retirement in 2011.
In May 2021, the company flew its first fully crewed test. Four passengers joined two pilots, showing the vehicle could handle commercial operations. That flight also validated the cabin and safety procedures.
Virgin Galactic launched its first commercial flight, Galactic 01, in June 2023. The mission carried three Italian Air Force officers and a National Research Council researcher for microgravity experiments. That flight proved the company could serve both tourists and researchers.
Regular passenger service began with Galactic 02 in August 2023. Early customers included a health coach and an Olympian, showing how varied the backgrounds of space tourists can be. Tickets started at $450,000 per seat.
During development, Virgin Galactic ran over 400 test flights. These included unpowered glides, powered tests, and crew training missions to prepare pilots for commercial work.
Richard Branson started Virgin Galactic in 2004 after licensing the winning SpaceShipOne tech from the Ansari X Prize. He put over $1 billion of his own money into the venture, making it one of his biggest business bets.
Branson flew on Unity 22 in July 2021, becoming the first billionaire founder to test his own spacecraft. The flight lasted 59 minutes, and Branson got to experience weightlessness and even do a few simple experiments.
His flight wasn’t just for fun. It showed the world that Virgin Galactic’s safety systems worked and that he trusted the design. Branson’s trip also grabbed worldwide media attention, boosting the brand.
He often talks about democratizing space, though, for now, $450,000 tickets are only for the wealthy. Branson says he wants to lower costs over time as flights become more frequent and efficient.
His marketing style leans into the adventure and life-changing aspects of spaceflight. Branson appears at air shows, space events, and media launches, personally pitching the dream of civilian space travel.
Blue Origin made history in 2015 with the first successful rocket landing and reuse, changing the economics of space travel. Jeff Bezos himself rode New Shepard in 2021, showing the system was safe for regular folks.
New Shepard pulled off the first rocket landing and reuse in Texas in November 2015. The engines kept working during landing—a huge step toward sustainable space travel.
This changed the money game. Old rockets cost millions and only flew once before burning up. Blue Origin’s reusable approach slashes costs by flying the same rocket over and over.
Now, New Shepard rockets routinely launch and land vertically on the same pad. Each rocket can fly at least 25 missions before retiring. Blue Origin has shown this works, with more than 30 total flights under its belt.
Passengers benefit directly from reusability. Cheaper flights mean more people can go, and knowing your rocket has flown successfully before is a confidence booster.
On July 20, 2021, Jeff Bezos flew aboard New Shepard. He became the second billionaire to reach space. His crew included his brother Mark, aviation legend Wally Funk, and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen.
This flight showed regular people could safely ride New Shepard. Bezos literally put his life on the line to prove the technology. The mission lasted about 11 minutes and crossed the Karman line at 62 miles up.
Each flight gives passengers three to four minutes of weightlessness. The capsule has six big windows for panoramic Earth views. Everyone floats around the cabin and gets a glimpse of Earth’s curve.
As of February 2025, Blue Origin has flown ten space tourism missions. Each flight takes up six passengers, who all go through basic training before launch. The company keeps expanding its New Shepard fleet to meet growing demand for suborbital space experiences.
SpaceX shook up space tourism by launching the first all-civilian orbital mission in 2021. Their reusable spacecraft now make multi-day trips possible for private citizens. The company offers both private orbital flights and trips to the ISS with its Crew Dragon capsule.
Elon Musk started SpaceX to make space travel affordable and routine, even for everyday people. His ambitions stretch way beyond government programs—he wants regular folks in orbit and, one day, on Mars.
SpaceX built the Crew Dragon specifically for human spaceflight. The capsule carries up to four passengers on multi-day orbital missions. Automated systems handle almost everything, so passengers don’t need to be pilots.
Their reusable rocket tech cuts launch costs a lot. Each Falcon 9 booster flies multiple times, landing back on Earth after each trip. Thanks to that, orbital tourism is now more doable than ever.
Right now, SpaceX charges about $50 million per seat for orbital flights. It’s a steep price, but still way less than what it used to cost. Musk hopes to lower prices more as launches become more common.
The massive Starship is still in testing, but could one day take up to 100 people to orbit, the Moon, or even Mars. SpaceX keeps pushing ahead with tests at Starbase in Texas.
Crew Dragon is SpaceX’s main vehicle for space tourism. It launches on a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center. Passengers spend several days in low Earth orbit at altitudes up to 350 miles.
The capsule has a big cupola dome for 360-degree views of Earth and space. Passengers float in zero gravity the entire time. Life support keeps the cabin comfortable for up to five days.
SpaceX offers two main options with Crew Dragon. Private orbital flights last 3-5 days and focus on the experience itself. ISS visits go for 8-10 days and let tourists interact with professional astronauts.
Training depends on the mission. Orbital flights require a few weeks of prep, including zero-g simulations and emergency drills. ISS visits can take up to six months of training on station systems and research.
In 2024, Polaris Dawn set new records for private spaceflight. The crew did the first commercial spacewalk in SpaceX-designed spacesuits and flew higher than any crew since Apollo.
The Inspiration4 mission took off in September 2021 as the first all-civilian orbital flight. Four private citizens orbited Earth for three days, with no pro astronauts on board. That flight proved regular people could handle space.
Jared Isaacman led the crew, which also included a physician assistant, an aerospace engineer, and a college student. None of them had space experience before their intense training.
Inspiration4 reached 366 miles up, even higher than the ISS. The crew orbited Earth every 90 minutes, catching multiple sunrises and sunsets each day. They also did medical research and educational outreach while in orbit.
The mission raised over $200 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. That showed space tourism could serve bigger causes than just personal adventure.
SpaceX tweaked the Crew Dragon for Inspiration4, swapping out the ISS docking port for a huge glass cupola. That dome gave the crew some of the best views ever during their journey.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa pushed commercial space travel forward with bold orbital missions and some wild lunar tourism plans. Another Japanese entrepreneur, Yozo Hirano, helped bring more civilians into the fold through newer space programs.
Yusaku Maezawa, once mainly known for fashion, jumped into space tourism and really shook things up. He paved the way for civilian space travel in ways that would’ve sounded like sci-fi a decade ago.
In December 2021, Maezawa spent 12 days on the International Space Station. He rode up there in a Russian Soyuz, becoming the first private ISS tourist in over ten years.
He reportedly paid about $80 million for the trip. Before launch, he trained at Star City in Russia, which sounds intense. Maezawa didn’t keep the experience to himself—he posted zero-gravity activities and stunning Earth views for millions to see.
But honestly, it’s Maezawa’s dearMoon Project with SpaceX that’s even more ambitious. He bought every seat on a Starship lunar flyby set for the late 2020s.
He’s bringing along eight artists and creatives, picked from a worldwide competition. The goal? Creative expression and cultural diversity, which is pretty refreshing.
This lunar tourism initiative shows that private citizens can now fund massive space missions. It’s a leap for commercial lunar travel, way beyond what governments have attempted.
Yozo Hirano helped boost Japanese involvement in commercial spaceflight by joining modern space tourism programs.
He participated in missions that proved orbital travel is opening up to international civilians. His journey showed that today’s spacecraft can handle a wide range of backgrounds.
These new missions use advanced safety systems and faster training. That means less prep time than the early days of space tourism.
Hirano’s flight underlined how commercial spaceflight is expanding past just American and Russian programs. He played a part in growing international teamwork in civilian space travel.
Modern spacecraft design now allows much shorter training for tourists. Automation has made the technical side less daunting for regular folks.
These changes make space tourism more realistic for business leaders and entrepreneurs. With easier processes, more people feel like space is within reach.
Space tourism has some pretty big hurdles. Safety scares, sky-high prices, and regulatory confusion keep sparking debates about whether commercial spaceflight is really a good idea.
Several major accidents have rattled the space tourism industry. One of the worst came in 2014, when Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo crashed during a test flight—co-pilot Michael Alsbury died, and pilot Peter Siebold survived but was badly hurt.
These tragedies reveal the real risks and technical limits that still haunt the sector. Even with reusable rockets and fancy new vehicles, there’s a lot of work left to make everything reliable.
Space companies take safety seriously, using protocols shaped by decades of NASA experience. Still, private firms have to juggle moving fast with making sure every test counts.
Big safety challenges include:
Space travel always comes with danger, but commercial ventures deal with different pressures than government agencies. They need a solid safety record to win over the public and regulators.
Right now, only the ultra-wealthy can afford space tourism. Suborbital tickets run from $250,000 to $450,000, and going to orbit can cost $20 million or more.
Blue Origin puts New Shepard tickets at $250,000 to $300,000. Virgin Galactic charges about $450,000 for SpaceShipTwo. That’s way out of reach for most people.
These prices stir up ethical debates. Is it okay to spend millions on a space joyride when there are so many problems back on Earth?
With so few customers at these prices, growth stays slow. Companies need bigger crowds to bring costs down.
Major cost barriers:
The industry hopes tech advances and competition will drop prices below $100,000 someday. Honestly, though, that could take decades.
Space tourism operates in a weird regulatory space—not quite as strict as aviation. The FAA does some regulating, but there are gaps in safety and operation rules.
International space law doesn’t cover commercial tourism well. That leaves companies guessing about the rules for orbital or lunar trips.
People worry about rocket emissions and their impact on the upper atmosphere. Every launch pumps out carbon and could hurt the ozone layer.
NASA and the industry get pressure to make launches more sustainable. Some folks argue we should use those resources for Earth’s problems instead.
Regulatory headaches:
Flashy space tourism ads can feel out of touch during global crises. Some see luxury space flights as tone-deaf when the world is struggling.
Growth in space tourism really depends on getting clear rules that balance innovation, safety, and environmental care.
New spacecraft tech and business partnerships are quickly moving space tourism toward the mainstream. Companies are building fresh spacecraft and eyeing destinations beyond Earth.
Reusable rockets are changing the game for space tourism costs. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has already flown over 200 missions, reusing the same boosters again and again. That’s dropped launch costs from $10,000 per kilogram to under $3,000.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard is all about reusable tech, too. The rocket lands upright, and the crew capsule floats down on parachutes. Virgin Galactic takes a different route, launching SpaceShipTwo from a plane.
These reusable vehicles mean companies don’t need a new rocket every launch. That saves a fortune when a single ship can fly dozens of times. SpaceX even plans for Starship to fly up to 1,000 times before a major overhaul.
Ticket prices could fall below $100,000 in the next decade, or so they say. For now, suborbital flights still cost between $200,000 and $450,000.
Lunar tourism is finally moving from wild dream to actual planning. SpaceX’s Starship will take the first civilian crew around the Moon on the dearMoon mission. Yusaku Maezawa snagged all the seats for artists and creators.
Blue Origin is working on its Blue Moon lander for NASA’s Artemis program. They plan to offer lunar trips after they get regular cargo runs going. Some of these lunar stays could last up to two weeks.
Companies are now designing deep space tourist ships with radiation shielding, extended life support, and luxury cabins. Passengers will get a view of Earth from farther away than any civilian has seen.
Gateway space stations will act as pit stops for lunar flights. NASA and private partners are building these hubs for research and tourism alike.
Space tourism is inching toward mass-market appeal. Companies are working on smaller, cheaper spacecraft, so they can fly more people at once—think 6 to 12 passengers instead of just 3 or 4.
Orbital space hotels are the next big thing. Axiom Space is making commercial modules to attach to the ISS. Guests could start staying for a week at a time by 2028.
The industry is also rolling out payment plans, insurance, and group discounts. Some are even tossing around subscription ideas for frequent flyers.
Training is getting easier, too. Instead of six months, civilian space tourists might only need two weeks of prep, thanks to VR and better automation. Medical requirements are relaxing, at least for suborbital hops.
Regional spaceports are popping up across the U.S.—Texas, New Mexico, and California are all in on new launch sites just for commercial flights.
Space tourism prices start around $250,000 for suborbital flights and can hit $55 million for orbital missions. SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic have all flown civilians since 2001.
Suborbital tickets with Blue Origin’s New Shepard start at about $250,000. Virgin Galactic charges about $450,000 per seat.
Orbital missions are way pricier. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon rides to the ISS are $50 million to $55 million per passenger. These trips include astronaut training and several days in orbit.
If you want to visit a private space station, companies like Axiom Space charge $55 million for an eight-day stay. That covers your ride, your room, and your food.
Lunar tourism isn’t here yet, but estimates run $100 million or more per seat. SpaceX’s dearMoon flight will be the first to take civilians around the Moon.
SpaceX leads the pack in orbital tourism with its Crew Dragon capsule. They’ve flown multiple all-civilian crews to orbit and the ISS.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard handles suborbital flights. Since 2021, they’ve flown passengers past the Karman line (100 km up) on several missions.
Virgin Galactic offers suborbital rides with SpaceShipTwo. They finally started commercial flights in 2023 after a long test phase.
Axiom Space focuses on private trips to the ISS and plans to launch its own commercial station by the late 2020s.
Dennis Tito made history in April 2001 as the first space tourist. He spent eight days on the ISS and paid $20 million through Space Adventures and Russia’s space program.
SpaceX’s Inspiration4 flight in September 2021 was the first all-civilian mission to orbit. Four people spent three days circling Earth, never docking with the ISS.
Blue Origin’s first crewed New Shepard flight in July 2021 took Jeff Bezos and three others to suborbital space. The whole trip lasted just 11 minutes.
Axiom Space sent the Ax-1 mission in April 2022—four private astronauts spent 17 days on the ISS. This was the first fully private crew to visit the station.
Space tourism gives civilians mind-blowing views of Earth and a taste of weightlessness. Most come back with a new perspective and some say it’s life-changing.
All this activity is speeding up innovation in spacecraft and safety. Companies are racing to make rockets reusable and launches more reliable.
The main drawback? The cost. Only the super-rich can afford it right now, though prices might fall in the future.
There are still safety risks, even with lots of testing. Space travel is risky—rockets, radiation, equipment malfunctions, you name it.
People also worry about rocket pollution and space junk. Every launch adds to carbon emissions and orbital debris.
SpaceX has flown several civilian crews to orbit in its Crew Dragon capsule. They’ve managed to do this safely, which is no small feat.
Their reusable Falcon 9 rocket slashes launch costs, especially when you compare it to the old-school, single-use rockets.
With the Inspiration4 mission, SpaceX showed that regular people can handle orbital flights. The crew only needed a few months of training, not the years NASA astronauts usually put in.
SpaceX is aiming even higher with lunar tourism. Starship, their next-gen vehicle, is supposed to carry the dearMoon project—artists and other creatives—around the moon, maybe as soon as the mid-2020s.
Their Starlink satellite network also plays a role here. The money SpaceX earns from commercial satellite launches actually helps fund research for passenger spacecraft.
Rocket launches throw carbon dioxide and water vapor high into the upper atmosphere. Suborbital flights, though, pump out fewer emissions than full-on orbital missions since they’re up there for a much shorter time.
Space debris is quickly becoming a bigger worry as more tourism flights take off. Every mission could add to the junk floating around, which puts other spacecraft and satellites at risk.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard runs on hydrogen fuel, so it only spits out water vapor. That means it leaves behind fewer nasty emissions than rockets burning kerosene or solid fuels.
Virgin Galactic does things a bit differently. Their air-launched system gets a boost from a carrier aircraft, so they don’t need as much fuel as rockets blasting off straight from the ground.
There’s still a lot of research happening around sustainable rocket fuels and reusable spacecraft. Some companies are working on methane-powered engines and launch vehicles you can use over and over, all in hopes of shrinking the environmental footprint.
