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{{Short description|Human space travel for recreation}} {{About|paying space travellers|other commercial spacefarers|Commercial astronaut|entrepreneurial space ventures and colonization|Private spaceflight}} {{Redirect|Space tourist|persons in space other than government employees or Axiom Space astronauts|Space flight participant|the 2009 film|Space Tourists}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} [[File:The Soyuz MS-20 crew (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Soyuz MS-20]] crew on the [[International Space Station]], from left to right: [[Yusaku Maezawa]] (Spaceflight Participant), [[Alexander Misurkin]] (cosmonaut), and [[Yozo Hirano]] (Spaceflight Participant).]] {{Spaceflight sidebar}} '''Space tourism''' is [[Human spaceflight|human space travel]] for recreational purposes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Von der Dunk |first1=F. G. |title=Space tourism, private spaceflight and the law: Key aspects |journal=Space Policy |year=2011 |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=146–152 |doi=10.1016/j.spacepol.2011.04.015 |issn=0265-9646 |url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1059&context=spacelaw |bibcode=2011SpPol..27..146V |access-date=June 25, 2019 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126045427/https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1059&context=spacelaw |url-status=live }}</ref> There are several different types of space tourism, including orbital, [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|suborbital]] and lunar space tourism. Tourists are motivated by the possibility of viewing Earth from space, feeling weightlessness, experiencing extremely high speed and something unusual, and contributing to science.<ref>{{Citation |title=Space tourism: Research recommendations for the future of the industry and perspectives of potential participants |date=October 2012 |journal=Tourism Management |volume=33 |issue=5 |pages=1093–1102 |author1=Maharaj Vijay Reddy |author2=Mirela Nica |author3=Keith Wilkes|doi=10.1016/j.tourman.2011.11.026 }}</ref> Space tourism started in April 2001, when American businessman and engineer [[Dennis Tito]] became the first ever space tourist to travel to space aboard a Soyuz-TM32 spacecraft. During the period from 2001 to 2009, seven space tourists made eight space flights aboard a Russian [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz spacecraft]] to the [[International Space Station]], brokered by American company [[Space Adventures]] in conjunction with [[Roscosmos]] and [[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|RSC Energia]]. Iranian-American businesswoman [[Anousheh Ansari]] became the first ever female space tourist in September 2006. The publicized price was in the range of US$20–25 million per trip. Some space tourists have signed contracts with third parties to conduct certain research activities while in orbit. By 2007, space tourism was thought to be one of the earliest [[market economy|markets]] that would emerge for commercial spaceflight.<ref name="belfiore2007">{{cite book |last1=Belfiore |first1=Michael |title=Rocketeers: how a visionary band of business leaders, engineers, and pilots is boldly privatizing space |date=2007 |publisher=Smithsonian Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-06-114903-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rocketeershowvis00belf/page/ <!-- use 'rp' template following to allow multiple reference -->] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rocketeershowvis00belf/page/ }}</ref>{{rp|11}} Space tourists need to be in good physical form before going to space. In particular, they have to train for fast acceleration or g-forces in a centrifuge and weightlessness by flying in a high-altitude jet plane doing parabolic arcs. They may have to learn how to operate and even fix parts of the spaceship using simulators. Russia halted orbital space tourism in 2010 due to the increase in the International Space Station crew size, using the seats for expedition crews that would previously have been sold to paying spaceflight participants.<ref name="nomorespacetourism">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6223VF20100303|title=Russia halts space tours as U.S. retires Shuttle|date=March 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430170837/http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/03/us-space-russia-idUSTRE6223VF20100303|archive-date=April 30, 2013|url-status=live|work=Reuters}}</ref><ref name="interfaxtourism">{{cite news |url=http://interfax.ru/society/news.asp?id=128393 |title=Russia will restore space tourism since 2012 |agency=Interfax |date=March 18, 2010 |language=ru |access-date=March 18, 2010 |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728085819/http://interfax.ru/society/news.asp?id=128393 |url-status=live }}</ref> Orbital tourist flights were set to resume in 2015 but the planned flight was postponed indefinitely.<ref name="spaceadventures.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.citizensinspace.org/citizen-exploration/ |title=Citizen Exploration |website=Citizens in Space |date=February 1, 2012 |access-date=March 14, 2012 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308051822/http://www.citizensinspace.org/citizen-exploration/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Russian orbital tourism eventually resumed with the launch of [[Soyuz MS-20]] in 2021.<ref name="nsf-soyuz-ms-20">{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/soyuz-ms-20-tourist-launch/ |title=Soyuz MS-20 space tourism flight docks with ISS |newspaper=NASASpaceflight.com |date=December 7, 2021 |access-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208032026/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/soyuz-ms-20-tourist-launch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 7, 2019, [[National Aeronautics and Space Association|NASA]] announced that starting in 2020, the organization aims to start allowing private astronauts to go on the International Space Station, with the use of the [[SpaceX]] [[Crew Dragon]] spacecraft and the [[Boeing Starliner]] spacecraft for public astronauts, which is planned to be priced at 35,000 [[United States dollar|USD]] per day for one astronaut,<ref name="$35ktogototheISS">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48560874 |title=NASA to open International Space Station to tourists |newspaper=BBC |date=June 7, 2019 |access-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608050347/https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-us-canada-48560874 |url-status=live }}</ref> and an estimated 50 million [[United States dollar|USD]] for the ride there and back.<ref name="$50mridetotheISS">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/06/22/nasa-commercial-marketing-space/ |title=Yes, NASA would be happy to have you aboard the space station. But it'll cost some $50 million. |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 22, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201180805/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/06/22/nasa-commercial-marketing-space/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Work also continues towards developing suborbital space tourism vehicles. This is being done by aerospace companies like [[Blue Origin]] and [[Virgin Galactic]]. SpaceX announced in 2018 that they are [[dearMoon project|planning on sending space tourists]], including [[Yusaku Maezawa]], on a [[free-return trajectory]] around the [[Moon]] on the [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]],<ref name="teslarati_moonflight">{{cite news |author=Eric Ralph |title=SpaceX has signed a private passenger for the first BFR launch around the Moon |url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-private-passenger-bfr-moon-mission/ |access-date=September 14, 2018 |date=September 14, 2018 |archive-date=September 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914132048/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-private-passenger-bfr-moon-mission/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="grush">{{cite web |last1=Grush |first1=Loren |title=SpaceX says it will send someone around the Moon on its future monster rocket |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/13/17857872/spacex-moon-trip-passenger-announcement-bfr |date=September 14, 2018 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-date=September 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914032806/https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/13/17857872/spacex-moon-trip-passenger-announcement-bfr |url-status=live }}</ref> however the project was cancelled on June 1, 2024.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} ==Precursors== {{see also|Space Race}} The [[Soviet space program]] was successful in broadening the pool of [[cosmonauts]]. The Soviet [[Interkosmos|Intercosmos]] program included cosmonauts selected from [[Warsaw Pact]] member countries ([[Czechoslovakia]], Poland, East Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania) and later from allies of the USSR (Cuba, Mongolia, Vietnam) and [[Non-Aligned Movement|non-aligned]] countries (India, Syria, Afghanistan). Most of these cosmonauts received full training for their missions and were treated as equals, but were generally given shorter flights than Soviet cosmonauts. The [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) also took advantage of the program.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bonini |first1=Gherardo |title=Relations between ESA and Russia (ESA.B-04.02.02) |url=https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/532918?item=ESA.B.09-04.02 |website=archives.eui.eu |publisher=European Union (Historical Archives) |access-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412095712/https://archives.eui.eu/en/fonds/532918?item=ESA.B.09-04.02 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Space Shuttle program|US Space Shuttle program]] included [[payload Specialist|payload specialist]] positions which were usually filled by representatives of companies or institutions managing a specific payload on that mission. These payload specialists did not receive the same training as professional [[NASA]] astronauts and were not employed by NASA. In 1983, [[Ulf Merbold]] from the ESA and [[Byron K. Lichtenberg|Byron Lichtenberg]] from [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] (engineer and [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] fighter pilot) were the first payload specialists to fly on the [[Space Shuttle]], on mission [[STS-9]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lichtenberg-bk.html |title=Biographical Data: Byron K. Lichtenberg, SC. D.|website=NASA|access-date=September 10, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919000449/http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lichtenberg-bk.html|archive-date=September 19, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Ulf_Merbold |title=Astronauts: Ulf Merbold |website=European Space Agency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430173344/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Ulf_Merbold |archive-date=April 30, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1984, [[Charles D. Walker]] became the first non-government astronaut to fly, with his employer [[McDonnell Douglas]] paying US$40,000 ({{Inflation|US|40000|1984|fmt=eq}}) for his flight.{{r|unl2011}}{{rp|74–75}} During the 1970s, Shuttle prime contractor [[Rockwell International]] studied a $200–300 million removable cabin that could fit into the Shuttle's cargo bay. The cabin could carry up to 74 passengers into orbit for up to three days. Space Habitation Design Associates proposed, in 1983, a cabin for 72 passengers in the bay. Passengers were located in six sections, each with windows and its own loading ramp, and with seats in different configurations for launch and landing. Another proposal was based on the [[Spacelab]] habitation modules, which provided 32 seats in the payload bay in addition to those in the cockpit area. A 1985 presentation to the [[National Space Society]] stated that, although flying tourists in the cabin would cost $1 million to $1.5 million per passenger without government subsidy, within 15 years, 30,000 people a year would pay US$25,000 ({{Inflation|US|25000|1985|fmt=eq}}) each to fly in space on new spacecraft. The presentation also forecast flights to [[lunar orbit]] within 30 years and visits to the lunar surface within 50 years.<ref name="l5198504">{{cite conference | url=http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/the_space_tourist.shtml | title=Space Tourism Could Drive Space Development | publisher=American Astronautical Society | access-date=February 17, 2012 | last=Citron |first=Robert | book-title=The Space Tourist | date=April 1985 | conference=Fourth Annual L5 Space Development Conference, National Space Society | location=Washington DC | pages=85–771 to 85–774 | archive-date=February 9, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032656/http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/the_space_tourist.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref> As the shuttle program expanded in the early 1980s, NASA began a Space Flight Participant program to allow citizens without scientific or governmental roles to fly. [[Christa McAuliffe]] was chosen as the first [[Teacher in Space]] in July 1985 from 11,400 applicants. 1,700 applied for the Journalist in Space program. An Artist in Space program was considered, and NASA expected that after McAuliffe's flight two to three civilians a year would fly on the shuttle. After McAuliffe was killed in the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' disaster]] in January 1986, the programs were canceled. McAuliffe's backup, [[Barbara Morgan]], eventually got hired in 1998 as a professional astronaut and flew on [[STS-118]] as a [[mission specialist]].<ref name="unl2011">{{cite book | title=Realizing Tomorrow: The Path to Private Spaceflight | url=https://archive.org/details/realizingtomorro0000dubb | url-access=registration | publisher=University of Nebraska Press |last1=Dubbs |first1=Chris |last2=Paat-Dahlstrom |first2=Emeline |last3=Walker |first3=Charles D. | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-8032-1610-5}}</ref>{{rp|84–85}} A second journalist-in-space program, in which NASA green-lighted [[Miles O'Brien (journalist)|Miles O'Brien]] to fly on the Space Shuttle, was scheduled to be announced in 2003. That program was canceled in the wake of the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|''Columbia'' disaster]] on [[STS-107]] and subsequent emphasis on finishing the International Space Station before retiring the Space Shuttle.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Initially, senior figures at NASA strongly opposed space tourism on principle; from the beginning of the ISS expeditions, NASA stated it was not interested in accommodating paying guests.<ref name="NoTourists">{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/news/spacestation/mir_tour_iss_001101.html|title=NASA: No Room at the ISS Inn for Mir Cast-offs |author=Bridges, Andrew |work=Space.com |date=November 1, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001109081900/http://space.com/news/spacestation/mir_tour_iss_001101.html |archive-date=November 9, 2000}}</ref> The Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Committee on Science of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] held in June 2001 revealed the shifting attitude of NASA towards paying space tourists wanting to travel to the ISS in its statement on the hearing's purpose: <blockquote>"Review the issues and opportunities for flying nonprofessional astronauts in space, the appropriate government role for supporting the nascent space tourism industry, use of the Shuttle and Space Station for Tourism, safety and training criteria for space tourists, and the potential commercial market for space tourism."</blockquote> The subcommittee report was interested in evaluating [[Dennis Tito]]'s extensive training and his experience in space as a nonprofessional astronaut.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} With the realities of the post-[[Perestroika]] economy in Russia, its space industry was especially starved for cash. The [[Tokyo Broadcasting System]] (TBS) offered to pay for one of its reporters to fly on a mission. [[Toyohiro Akiyama]] was flown in 1990 to ''[[Mir]]'' with the eighth crew and returned a week later with the seventh crew. Cost estimates vary from $10 million up to $37 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/08/03/people/toyohiro-akiyama-cautionary-tales-from-one-not-afraid-to-risk-all/ |title=Toyohiro Akiyama: Cautionary tales from one not afraid to risk all |newspaper=Japan Times |date=August 3, 2013 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |last1=Otake |first1=Tomoko |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801034412/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/08/03/people/toyohiro-akiyama-cautionary-tales-from-one-not-afraid-to-risk-all/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/aviation%20timeline/1990.htm |title=World Aviation in 1990 |access-date=August 1, 2018 |archive-date=November 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119140335/http://century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/aviation%20timeline/1990.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Akiyama gave a daily TV broadcast from orbit and also performed scientific experiments for Russian and Japanese companies. In 1991, British chemist [[Helen Sharman]] was selected from a pool of 13,000 applicants to be the first Briton in space.<ref name="FirstBriton">{{cite news |title=1991: Sharman becomes first Briton in space |date=May 18, 1991 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/18/newsid_2380000/2380649.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=January 6, 2007 |archive-date=September 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905072027/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/18/newsid_2380000/2380649.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The program was known as [[Project Juno]] and was a cooperative arrangement between the [[Soviet Union]] and a group of British companies. The Project Juno consortium failed to raise the funds required, and the program was almost canceled. Reportedly [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] ordered it to proceed under Soviet expense in the interests of international relations, but in the absence of Western underwriting, less expensive experiments were substituted for those in the original plans. Sharman flew aboard [[Soyuz TM-12]] to ''Mir'' and returned aboard [[Soyuz TM-11]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/english/flights.htm|title=Manned Spaceflights|website=SPACEFACTS |access-date=October 14, 2019|archive-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024163708/http://www.spacefacts.de/english/flights.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 1999, the Russian space agency announced that 51-year-old British billionaire Peter Llewellyn would be sent to the aging Mir space station in return for a payment of $100 million by Llewellyn.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1999/04/27/British-billionaire-pays-for-Mir-ride/1283925185600/|title=British billionaire pays for Mir ride|date=April 27, 1999|work=UPI |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240305235806/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1999/04/27/British-billionaire-pays-for-Mir-ride/1283925185600/ |archive-date= March 5, 2024 }}</ref> Llewellyn, however, denied agreeing to pay that sum, his refusal to pay which prompted his flight's cancellation a month later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/353467.stm|title=No Mir flight for British businessman|date=May 27, 1999|work=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002081856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/353467.stm |archive-date= October 2, 2023 }}</ref> == Sub-orbital space tourism == {{See also|Sub-orbital spaceflight}} === Successful projects === * [[Scaled Composites]] won the $10 million [[Ansari X Prize|X Prize]] in October 2004 with [[SpaceShipOne]], as the first private company to reach and surpass an altitude of {{convert|62|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} twice within two weeks. The altitude is beyond the [[Kármán Line]], the arbitrarily-defined boundary of space.<ref name="Xprize1">{{cite press release |url=http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/spaceshipone_flies_again_within_14_days_-_wins_10m_x_prize |title=SpaceShipOne Flies Again Within 14 Days – Wins $10M X PRIZE |website=Scaled Composites |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-date=January 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113174704/http://scaled.com/projects/tierone/spaceshipone_flies_again_within_14_days_-_wins_10m_x_prize |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first flight was flown by [[Mike Melvill|Michael Melvill]] in June 2004, to a height of {{convert|62|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}}, making him the first commercial astronaut.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/pilots/michael_w._melvill |title=Michael W. Melvill |website=Scaled Composites |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424214944/http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/pilots/michael_w._melvill }}</ref> The prize-winning flight was flown by [[Brian Binnie]], which reached a height of {{convert|69.6|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}}, breaking the [[X-15]] record.<ref name="Xprize2">{{cite web |url=http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/041004_spaceshipone_x-prize_flight_2.html |title=SpaceShipOne Captures X-Prize! |website=Scaled Composites |access-date=November 9, 2008 |archive-date=November 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105083543/http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/041004_spaceshipone_x-prize_flight_2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There were no space tourists on the flights even though the vehicle has seats for three passengers. Instead there was additional weight to make up for the weight of passengers.<ref name="BritannicaTopicSpaceShipOne">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/SpaceShipOne |title=SpaceShipOne |website=Britannica |access-date=July 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430191905/https://www.britannica.com/topic/SpaceShipOne |url-status=live }}</ref> * In 2005, [[Virgin Galactic]] was founded as a joint venture between Scaled Composites and Richard Branson's Virgin Group.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weitering |first=Hanneke |title=Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity Space Plane Aces Test Flight, Reaching Mesosphere for the 1st Time|url=https://www.space.com/41295-virgin-galactic-reaches-mesosphere-epic-test.html|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=Space.com|date=July 26, 2018|language=en|archive-date=September 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901235013/https://www.space.com/41295-virgin-galactic-reaches-mesosphere-epic-test.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Eventually Virgin Group owned the entire project.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 5, 2012|title=Virgin Galactic Acquires Full Ownership of The Spaceship Company|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20121005005907/en/Virgin-Galactic-Acquires-Full-Ownership-of-The-Spaceship-Company|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=Business Wire |language=en|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428221901/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20121005005907/en/Virgin-Galactic-Acquires-Full-Ownership-of-The-Spaceship-Company|url-status=live}}</ref> Virgin Galactic began building [[SpaceShipTwo]]-class spaceplanes. The first of these [[spaceplane]]s, [[VSS Enterprise|VSS ''Enterprise'']], was intended to commence its first commercial flights in 2015, and tickets were on sale at a price of $200,000 (later raised to $250,000). However, the company suffered a considerable setback when [[2014 Virgin Galactic crash|the ''Enterprise'' broke up]] over the [[Mojave Desert]] during a test flight in October 2014. Over 700 tickets had been sold prior to the accident.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Kenneth |last2=Schwartz |first2=John |date=October 31, 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/science/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-crashes-during-test-flight.html |url-access=subscription |title=Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Crashes in New Setback for Commercial Spaceflight |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401043744/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/science/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-crashes-during-test-flight.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A second spaceplane, [[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']], completed a successful test flight with four passengers on July 11, 2021, to an altitude of nearly 90 km (56 mi).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Malik |first=Tariq |title=Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity 22 launch with Richard Branson. See video and photos of the flight.|url=https://www.space.com/virgin-galactic-richard-branson-unity-22-launch-explained|access-date=July 12, 2021|website=Space.com|date=July 11, 2021|language=en|archive-date=July 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712052103/https://www.space.com/virgin-galactic-richard-branson-unity-22-launch-explained|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Galactic 01]] became the company's first commercial spaceflight on June 29, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |title=Virgin Galactic completes first commercial flight in major step for space tourism company |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/29/virgin-galactic-first-commercial-spaceflight-live-stream-updates.html |date=June 29, 2023 |website=CNBC |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119105712/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/29/virgin-galactic-first-commercial-spaceflight-live-stream-updates.html |archive-date= January 19, 2024 }}</ref> * [[Blue Origin]] developed the [[New Shepard]] reusable suborbital launch system specifically to enable short-duration space tourism. Blue Origin plans to ferry a maximum of six persons on a brief journey to space on board the New Shepard. The capsule is attached to the top portion of an 18-meter (59-foot) rocket. The rocket successfully launched with four passengers on July 20, 2021, and reached an altitude of {{Convert|107|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Berger|first=Eric|date=July 20, 2021|title=Blue Origin successfully completes its first human launch [Updated]|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/blue-origin-set-for-historic-first-human-flight-of-its-new-shepard-system/|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720150008/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/blue-origin-set-for-historic-first-human-flight-of-its-new-shepard-system/|url-status=live}}</ref> Blue Origin's 10th human flight lifted off on the morning of February 25, 2025. Six paying passengers, including a Spanish TV host, and several investors, experienced weightlessness during the 10-12-minute flight and can see Earth against the blackness of space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=updated |first=Mike Wall last |date=February 25, 2025 |title=Blue Origin launches 'Perfect 10' space tourists on New Shepard rocket (video) |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/watch-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-10th-space-tourism-flight-today |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> === Canceled projects === * [[Armadillo Aerospace]] was developing a two-seat vertical takeoff and landing ([[VTOL]]) rocket called Hyperion, which will be marketed by Space Adventures.<ref>{{cite web |title=The U.S. Commercial Suborbital Industry: A Space Renaissance in the Making |url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/111460.pdf |website=Federal Aviation Administration |pages=6–7 |access-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921100648/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/111460.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Hyperion uses a capsule similar in shape to the Gemini capsule. The vehicle will use a parachute for descent but will probably use [[retrorocket]]s for final touchdown, according to remarks made by Armadillo Aerospace at the Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in February 2012. The assets of Armadillo Aerospace were sold to [[Exos Aerospace]] and while SARGE is continuing to be developed, it is unclear whether Hyperion is still being developed. * [[XCOR Aerospace]] was developing a suborbital vehicle called [[Lynx (spacecraft)|Lynx]] until development was halted in May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xcor.com/products/vehicles/lynx_suborbital.html|title=About Lynx|work=XCOR Aerospace|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430002641/http://www.xcor.com/products/vehicles/lynx_suborbital.html|archive-date=April 30, 2010|access-date=April 30, 2013}}</ref> The Lynx would take off from a runway under rocket power. Unlike SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo, Lynx would not require a mothership. Lynx was designed for rapid turnaround, which would enable it to fly up to four times per day. Because of this rapid flight rate, Lynx had fewer seats than SpaceShipTwo, carrying only one pilot and one spaceflight participant on each flight. XCOR expected to roll out the first Lynx prototype and begin flight tests in 2015, but as of late 2017, XCOR was unable to complete their prototype development and filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/xcor-aerospace-files-for-bankruptcy/|title=XCOR Aerospace files for bankruptcy|last=Foust|first=Jeff|newspaper=[[SpaceNews]]|date=November 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20191216022907/https://spacenews.com/xcor%2Daerospace%2Dfiles%2Dfor%2Dbankruptcy/|archive-date=December 16, 2019}}</ref> ** Citizens in Space, formerly the [[Teacher in Space Project]], is a project of the [[United States Rocket Academy]]. Citizens in Space combines [[citizen science]] with citizen space exploration. The goal is to fly citizen-science experiments and citizen explorers (who travel free) who will act as payload operators on suborbital space missions. By 2012, Citizens in Space had acquired a contract for 10 suborbital flights with XCOR Aerospace and expected to acquire additional flights from XCOR and other suborbital spaceflight providers in the future. In 2012, Citizens in Space reported they had begun training three citizen astronaut candidates and would select seven additional candidates over the next 12 to 14 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizensinspace.org/next-frontier/|title=The Next Frontier For Citizen Science|website=Citizens in Space|date=May 5, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313070048/http://www.citizensinspace.org/next-frontier/|archive-date=March 13, 2013}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=October 2021|reason=This date has passed. What happened?}} ** [[Space Expedition Corporation]] was preparing to use the Lynx for "[[Space Expedition Curaçao]]", a commercial flight from [[Hato Airport]] on [[Curaçao]], and planned to start commercial flights in 2014. The costs were $95,000 each.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bild.de/reise/fluege/weltraumtourismus/lynx-ueberschall-flugzeug-weltraumtourismus-new-york-tokio-26888704.bild.html|language=de|title=Fliegen wir die Strecke New York-Tokio bald mit Umweg übers All?|work=Bild|date=October 26, 2012|access-date=November 4, 2012|archive-date=November 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104180620/http://www.bild.de/reise/fluege/weltraumtourismus/lynx-ueberschall-flugzeug-weltraumtourismus-new-york-tokio-26888704.bild.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xcor.com/press-releases/2012/12-06-07_XCOR_announces_SXC_as_general_sales_agent.html |title=XCOR Aerospace Announces Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) As General Sales Agent For Space Tourism Flights |website=XCOR Aerospace |date=June 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401121629/http://www.xcor.com/press-releases/2012/12-06-07_XCOR_announces_SXC_as_general_sales_agent.html |archive-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref> ** [[Axe Apollo Space Academy]] promotion by [[Unilever]] which planned to provide 23 people suborbital spaceflights on board the Lynx. * [[EADS Astrium]], a subsidiary of European aerospace giant [[EADS]], announced its [[EADS Astrium Space Tourism Project|space tourism project]] in June 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1909818.ece|title=Europe joins space tourism race|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=June 10, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511170315/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1909818.ece|archive-date=May 11, 2008}}</ref> == Orbital space tourism == {{See also|Orbital spaceflight}} As of 2021, Space Adventures and SpaceX are the only companies to have coordinated tourism flights to Earth's orbit. Virginia-based Space Adventures has worked with Russia to use its Soyuz spacecraft to fly ultra-wealthy individuals to the International Space Station. The tourists included entrepreneur and space investor [[Anousheh Ansari]] and [[Cirque du Soleil]] co-founder [[Guy Laliberté]]. Those missions were priced at around $20 million each. The space industry could soon be headed for a tourism revolution if SpaceX and Boeing make good on their plans to take tourists to orbit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|title=SpaceX teams up with space tourism agency to sell rides aboard its spacecraft|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/18/tech/spacex-tourism-space-adventures/index.html|access-date=February 19, 2020|website=CNN|date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219185912/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/18/tech/spacex-tourism-space-adventures/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> === Successful projects === [[File:ISS-02 Soyuz TM-32 Taxi crewmembers in the Zvezda Service Module.jpg|thumb|The first space tourist, [[Dennis Tito]] (left) aboard the ISS]] [[File:Mark Shuttleworth NASA.jpg|thumb|Space tourist [[Mark Shuttleworth]]]] At the end of the 1990s, [[MirCorp]], a private venture that was by then in charge of the space station, began seeking potential space tourists to visit ''Mir'' in order to offset some of its maintenance costs. [[Dennis Tito]], an American businessman and former [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]] scientist, became their first candidate. When the decision was made to de-orbit ''Mir'', Tito managed to switch his trip to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) aboard a Russian [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz spacecraft]] through a deal between MirCorp and US-based [[Space Adventures]], Ltd. Dennis Tito visited the ISS for seven days in April–May 2001, becoming the world's first "fee-paying" space tourist. Tito paid a reported $20 million for his trip.<ref name="Tito">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1297924.stm |title=Profile: Tito the spaceman |date=April 28, 2001 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=February 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217062408/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1297924.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Tito was followed in April 2002 by South African [[Mark Shuttleworth]] ([[Soyuz TM-34]]). In February 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard. After this disaster, space tourism on the Russian [[Soyuz program]] was temporarily put on hold, because [[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz vehicles]] became the only available transport to the ISS. After the Shuttle's return to service in July 2005, space tourism was resumed. The third was [[Gregory Olsen]] in October 2005 ([[Soyuz TMA-7]]). In September 2006, an [[Iranian American]] businesswoman named [[Anousheh Ansari]] became the fourth space tourist ([[Soyuz TMA-9]]).<ref name="Anousheh Ansari">{{cite web | url=http://www.anoushehansari.com/about/ | title=About Anousheh Ansari | website=Anousheh Ansari | access-date=April 30, 2013 | archive-date=July 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727140038/http://www.anoushehansari.com/about/ | url-status=live }}</ref>) In April 2007, [[Charles Simonyi]], an American businessman of Hungarian descent, joined their ranks ([[Soyuz TMA-10]]). Simonyi became the first repeat space tourist, paying again to fly on [[Soyuz TMA-14]] in March 2009. [[British-American]] [[Richard Garriott]] became the next space tourist in October 2008 aboard [[Soyuz TMA-13]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/soyuz-tma-13-set-to-launch-trio-to-iss/|title=Soyuz TMA-13 launches trio on journey to the ISS|last=Bergin|first=Chris|work=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=October 11, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207061444/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/10/soyuz-tma-13-set-to-launch-trio-to-iss/|archive-date=February 7, 2021}}</ref> Canadian [[Guy Laliberté]] visited the ISS in September 2009 aboard [[Soyuz TMA-16]], becoming the last visiting tourist until Japanese nationals [[Yusaku Maezawa]] and [[Yozo Hirano]] aboard [[Soyuz MS-20]] in December 2021. Originally the third member aboard [[Soyuz TMA-18M]] would have been the British singer [[Sarah Brightman]] as a space tourist, but on May 13, 2015, she announced she had withdrawn from training.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-sarahbrightman-idUSKBN0NY2KN20150513|title=Singer Sarah Brightman calls off flight to space station|last=Klotz|first=Irene|work=Reuters|date=May 13, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022105817/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-sarahbrightman-idUSKBN0NY2KN20150513|archive-date=October 22, 2020}}</ref> Since the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011, Soyuz once again became the only means of accessing the ISS, and so tourism was once again put on hold. On June 7, 2019, NASA announced a plan to open the ISS to space tourism again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-opens-international-space-station-to-new-commercial-opportunities-private|title=NASA Opens International Space Station to New Commercial Opportunities|last=Northon|first=Karen|date=June 7, 2019|website=NASA|access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001054506/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-opens-international-space-station-to-new-commercial-opportunities-private/|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 16, 2021, the [[Inspiration4]] mission launched from the [[Kennedy Space Center]] on a [[SpaceX]] [[Falcon 9]] and spent almost three days in orbit aboard the [[Crew Dragon]] ''[[Crew Dragon Resilience|Resilience]]'', becoming the first all-civilian crew to fly an orbital space mission.<ref>{{cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Ian |title=SpaceX launches Inspiration4, first all-private orbital mission |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/spacex-launch-inspiration4/ |website=nasaspaceflight.com |date=September 15, 2021 |access-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916004519/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/spacex-launch-inspiration4/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>.{{cite web |last=Davenport |first=Justin |title=Inspiration4 and all-civilian crew return to Earth with splashdown off Florida coast |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/inspiration4-splashdown-florida/ |website=nasapaceflight.com |date=September 18, 2021 |access-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007201340/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/inspiration4-splashdown-florida/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 12, 2024, [[Jared Isaacman]] and [[Sarah Gillis]] performed the first commercial [[Extravehicular activity|spacewalk]] during the ''[[Polaris Dawn]]'' spaceflight operated by [[SpaceX]].<ref>{{cite news |title=First Private Spacewalk in SpaceX Capsule Achieves New Milestone|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/11/science/spacex-polaris-dawn-astronauts-spacewalk.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 12, 2024 |access-date=September 12, 2024}}</ref> On April 1, 2025, [[Fram2]] became the first [[Human spaceflight|crewed spaceflight]] to enter a [[polar orbit|polar]] [[retrograde orbit]],<ref>{{Cite tweet |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |author-link=Jonathan McDowell|user=planet4589 |number=1906922678067560513|title=First Space Force orbit data for Fram-2 out , showing it in a 202 x 413 km x 90.01 deg orbit|note=0.01° means it entered Retrograde orbit too}}</ref> launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=April 1, 2025 |title=SpaceX launches Fram2 private astronaut mission |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-fram2-private-astronaut-mission/ |access-date=April 1, 2025 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> === Ongoing projects === * [[Axiom Space]] uses [[Dragon 2|Crew Dragon]] flights contracted with [[SpaceX]] to send crews to the International Space Station.<ref name="Sheetz 2021">{{cite web|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|date=June 2, 2021|title=Axiom Space expands SpaceX private crew launch deal, with four total missions to the space station|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/02/axiom-space-expands-spacex-deal-for-private-crew-launches-to-iss-.html|website=CNBC|access-date=August 2, 2022|archive-date=May 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529151534/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/02/axiom-space-expands-spacex-deal-for-private-crew-launches-to-iss-.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ax-2 Overview">{{cite web|url=https://www.axiomspace.com/#overview|title=Axiom-2 Official Overview|website=Axiom Space|access-date=June 18, 2023|archive-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124195711/https://www.axiomspace.com/#overview|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Axiom Mission 1|Mission 1]] flew in April 2022, [[Axiom Mission 2|Mission 2]] flew in May 2023 and [[Axiom Mission 3|Mission 3]] flew in January 2024. A fourth mission is planned for October 2024. Through these missions, NASA hopes to create a non-NASA market for human spaceflight to enable cost-sharing on future commercial space stations. * The [[Boeing Starliner]] capsule is being developed as part of the NASA's [[Commercial Crew Program]]. Part of the agreement with NASA allows Boeing to sell seats for space tourists. Boeing proposed including one seat per flight for a [[spaceflight participant]] at a price that would be competitive with what Roscosmos charges tourists.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/boeing-space-idUSL1N0RI2XY20140917 |title=Boeing's 'space taxi' includes seat for a tourist |work=Reuters |first=Irene |last=Klotz |date=September 17, 2014 |access-date=August 6, 2015 |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316191051/http://www.reuters.com/article/boeing-space-idUSL1N0RI2XY20140917 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/boeing-space-taxi-has-tourist-seat-1.2770088 |title=Boeing space taxi has tourist seat |website=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |agency=Thomson Reuters |date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=January 7, 2017 |archive-date=January 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108190620/http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/boeing-space-taxi-has-tourist-seat-1.2770088 |url-status=live }}</ref> * The [[Polaris Program]]: The commander and financier of the Inspiration4 mission, [[Jared Isaacman]], announced plans for a three-mission program called Polaris in February 2022. The first mission, [[Polaris Dawn]], launched four private astronauts in a [[Crew Dragon]] spacecraft to earth orbit. Polaris Dawn was a free-flyer mission in which the spacecraft did not perform any rendezvous maneuvers, instead setting the all-time earth orbit altitude record at 1,400 km, surpassing the 1,373 km record set by [[Gemini XI]]. Polaris Dawn also included the first private [[extravehicular activity]] (EVA). The last Polaris program mission is planned to be the first crewed flight of the in-development Starship launch system. === Canceled projects === * In 2004, [[Bigelow Aerospace]] established a competition called [[America's Space Prize]], which offered a $50 million prize to the first US company to create a reusable spacecraft capable of carrying passengers to a Nautilus space station. The prize expired in January 2010 without anyone making a serious effort to win it.<ref>{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |title=Bigelow still thinks big |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1719/1 |website=The Space Review |date=November 1, 2010 |access-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707091051/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1719/1 |url-status=live }}</ref> * The Space Island Group proposed having 20,000 people on their "space island" by 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/sig-vision.html |title=The Space Island Group's Mission |website=Space Island Group |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-date=April 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427100548/http://www.spaceislandgroup.com/sig-vision.html }}</ref> * A United States startup firm, Orion Span announced during the early part of 2018 that it planned to launch and position a luxury space hotel in orbit within several years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/40226-aurora-station-luxury-space-hotel-photos.html|title=A Space Hotel in Images: Orion Span's Luxury Aurora Station|work=Space.com|access-date=October 16, 2018|archive-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017042939/https://www.space.com/40226-aurora-station-luxury-space-hotel-photos.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Aurora Space Station]], the name of the hotel, would have offered guests (at most six individuals) 12 days of staying in a pill-shaped space hotel for $9.5 million. The hotel's cabins would have measured approximately 12.9 metres (43 feet) by 4.8 metres (14 feet) in width.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1247091/orion-span-claims-its-luxury-space-hotel-will-open-to-its-first-guests-in-2022/|title=Orion Span claims its 'luxury space hotel' will open to its first guests in 2022 – Quartz|website=Quartz|date=April 9, 2018 |access-date=October 16, 2018|archive-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017082143/https://qz.com/1247091/orion-span-claims-its-luxury-space-hotel-will-open-to-its-first-guests-in-2022/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Space Adventures Crew Dragon mission]]: [[Space Adventures]] and [[SpaceX]] planned to send up to four tourists to low Earth orbit for a few days in late 2021 or early 2022. In October 2021, Space Adventures stated that the mission contract had expired, though the possibility of a future partnership with SpaceX was left open.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Anastasia |url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/travel/us-firm-sees-%27exciting%27-moment-as-space-tourism-booms1 |title=U.S. firm sees 'exciting' moment as space tourism booms |work=[[Japan Today]] |date=October 18, 2021 |access-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018211442/https://japantoday.com/category/features/travel/us-firm-sees-%27exciting%27-moment-as-space-tourism-booms1 |url-status=live }}</ref> * [[Galactic Suite Design]] * [[Orbital Technologies Commercial Space Station]] * [[Space Industries Incorporated]] * [[Space Islands]] == Tourism beyond Earth orbit == {{Further|Tourism on the Moon}} [[File:SpaceX Mars tourism poster for Phobos and Deimos.jpg|thumb|Artist conception of a Mars tourism poster, made by [[SpaceX]]]] === Ongoing projects === * A mission with a similar flight profile is planned to have the same flight profile as the now cancelled Dearmoon project, with [[Dennis Tito]] and his wife Akiko Tito as two of the passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/dennis-tito-and-wife-to-be-on-second-starship-flight-around-the-moon/|title=Dennis Tito and wife to be on second Starship flight around the moon|last=Foust|first=Jeff|newspaper=[[SpaceNews]]|date=October 12, 2022|access-date=January 29, 2023|archive-date=May 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530001222/https://spacenews.com/dennis-tito-and-wife-to-be-on-second-starship-flight-around-the-moon/|url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Space Adventures]] Ltd. have announced that they are working on [[DSE-Alpha]], a circumlunar mission to the Moon, with the price per passenger being $100,000,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gilman |first=Victoria |title=$100 Million Moon Trip: Space Tourism's Hot Ticket? |date=August 10, 2005 |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0810_050810_moontrip.html |work=National Geographic News |access-date=December 10, 2006 |archive-date=December 10, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210054311/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0810_050810_moontrip.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> === Cancelled projects === * [[Excalibur Almaz]] proposed to take three tourists in a flyby around the Moon, using modified [[Almaz]] space station modules, in a low-energy trajectory flyby around the Moon. The trip would last around 6 months.<ref name="economist1">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21557719 |title=Fly me to the moon |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=June 30, 2012 |access-date=August 21, 2015 |archive-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823063656/http://www.economist.com/node/21557719 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, their equipment was never launched and is to be converted into an educational exhibit.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Owen|first1=Jonathan|title=Shooting for the Moon: time called on Isle of Man space race|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/shooting-for-the-moon-time-called-on-isle-of-man-space-race-10101750.html|access-date=April 19, 2017|work=The Independent|date=March 11, 2015|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914034208/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/shooting-for-the-moon-time-called-on-isle-of-man-space-race-10101750.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * The [[Golden Spike Company]] was an American [[space transport]] startup active from 2010 to 2013. The company held the objective to offer private commercial space transportation services to the [[lunar landing|surface of the Moon]]. The company's website was quietly taken offline in September 2015. * The [[Inspiration Mars Foundation]] is an American nonprofit organization founded by [[Dennis Tito]] that proposed to launch a crewed mission to [[Planetary flyby|flyby]] [[Mars]] in January 2018,<ref name=Borenstein>{{cite news |title=Tycoon wants to send married couple on Mars flyby |first=Seth |last=Borenstein |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130227/DA4N93K83.html |newspaper=Excite |agency=Associated Press |date=February 27, 2013 |access-date=March 3, 2013 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185156/http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130227/DA4N93K83.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Boucher>{{cite news |title=The First Human Mission to Mars in 2018 (Updated) |first=Marc |last=Boucher |url=http://spaceref.com/mars/the-first-human-mission-to-mars-in-2018.html |work=SpaceRef |date=February 20, 2013 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411204327/http://spaceref.com/mars/the-first-human-mission-to-mars-in-2018.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Sonnenberg>{{cite news |title=Millionaire space tourist planning 'historic journey' to Mars in 2018 |first=Max |last=Sonnenberg |url=http://thespacereporter.com/2013/02/millionaire-space-tourist-planning-historic-journey-to-mars-in-2018/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226090920/http://thespacereporter.com/2013/02/millionaire-space-tourist-planning-historic-journey-to-mars-in-2018/ |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |newspaper=The Space Reporter |date=February 23, 2013 |url-status=usurped |access-date=February 28, 2013 }}</ref> or 2021 if they missed the first deadline.<ref name="parabolicarc.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/11/20/dennis-titos-prepared-remarks-congress-human-mars-mission/ |title=Dennis Tito's Prepared Remarks Before Congress on Human Mars Mission at Parabolic Arc |publisher=Parabolicarc.com |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2013 |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910061015/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/11/20/dennis-titos-prepared-remarks-congress-human-mars-mission/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Their website became defunct by late 2015 but it is archived by the [[Internet Archive]].<ref name="web.archive.org">{{cite web|url=http://inspirationmars.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013012955/http://inspirationmars.org/ |archive-date=October 13, 2015|url-status=usurped |title=The Foundation}}</ref> The Foundation's future plans are unclear. * [[Bigelow Aerospace]] planned to extend their successes with the ''Genesis'' modules by launching the [[B330]], an expandable habitation module with 330 cubic meters of internal space, aboard a [[Vulcan (rocket)|Vulcan rocket]]. The Vulcan was contracted to boost BA 330 to low lunar orbit by the end of 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ulalaunch.com/bigelow-aerospace-and-ula-lunar-depot.aspx |title=Bigelow Aerospace and United Launch Alliance Announce Agreement to Place a B330 Habitat in Low Lunar Orbit |date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115180245/http://www.ulalaunch.com/bigelow-aerospace-and-ula-lunar-depot.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> * In February 2017, [[Elon Musk]] announced that substantial deposits from two individuals had been received by [[SpaceX]] for a Moon loop flight using a [[free return trajectory]] and that this could happen as soon as late 2018.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 27, 2017 |title=SpaceX to fly tourists around Moon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39111030 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520020028/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39111030 |archive-date=May 20, 2018 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Musk said that the cost of the mission would be "comparable" to that of sending an astronaut to the International Space Station, about US$70 million in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yuhas |first=Alan |date=February 28, 2017 |title=SpaceX to send two people around the moon who paid for a 2018 private mission |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/feb/27/spacex-moon-private-mission-2018-elon-musk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301005838/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/feb/27/spacex-moon-private-mission-2018-elon-musk |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |access-date=March 2, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In February 2018, Musk announced that the Falcon Heavy rocket would not be used for crewed missions.<ref name="SpaceNews">{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=February 6, 2018 |title=SpaceX no longer planning crewed missions on Falcon Heavy |url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-no-longer-planning-crewed-missions-on-falcon-heavy/ |access-date=February 6, 2018 |newspaper=[[SpaceNews]]}}</ref><ref name="wsj.com">{{cite news |last1=Pasztor |first1=Andy |title=Elon Musk Says SpaceX's New Falcon Heavy Rocket Unlikely to Carry Astronauts |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-says-spacexs-new-falcon-heavy-rocket-unlikely-to-carry-astronauts-1517876582?mod=rss_Technology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206172108/https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-says-spacexs-new-falcon-heavy-rocket-unlikely-to-carry-astronauts-1517876582?mod=rss_Technology |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> The proposal changed in 2018 to use the [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]] launch system instead.<ref name="grush" /><ref name="SpaceNews" /><ref name="wsj.com" /> In September 2018, Musk revealed the passenger for the trip, [[Yusaku Maezawa]] during a livestream. Yusaku Maezawa described the plan for his trip in further detail, dubbed the #[[dearMoon project]], intended to take 6–8 artists with him on the journey to inspire the artists to create new art. ==Legality== Under the [[Outer Space Treaty]] signed in 1967, the launch operator's nationality and the launch site's location determine which country is responsible for any damages occurred from a launch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/isn/5181.htm|title=Outer Space Treaty|website=U.S. Department of State|access-date=May 23, 2019|archive-date=June 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609142306/https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/isn/5181.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> After valuable resources were detected on the Moon, private companies began to formulate methods to extract the resources. Article II of the [[Outer Space Treaty]] dictates that "outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html|title=The Outer Space Treaty|last=robert.wickramatunga|website=unoosa.org|access-date=October 27, 2017|archive-date=April 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427091708/http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, countries have the right to freely explore the Moon and any resources collected are property of that country when they return. ===United States=== In December 2005, the US government released a set of proposed rules for space tourism.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/science/nature/4589072.stm |title=US draws up space tourism rules |work=BBC News |date=January 8, 2006 |access-date=May 24, 2012 |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325011253/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/science/nature/4589072.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> These included screening procedures and training for emergency situations, but not health requirements.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} In 1984, the U.S. Congress passed the [[Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984|Commercial Space Launch Act]], which, among other things, encourages space commercialization ([https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=%2Fprelim%40title51&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title51&f=&fq=&num=0&hl=false&edition=prelim 51 U.S.C. § 20102(c)]). Under current US law, any company proposing to launch paying passengers from American soil on a suborbital rocket must receive a license from the Federal Aviation Administration's [[Office of Commercial Space Transportation]] (FAA/AST). The licensing process focuses on public safety and safety of property, and the details can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14, Chapter III.<ref name="FAAReg">{{cite web | title=Code of Federal Regulations: Title 14, Chapter III |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |url= http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=f32ec318140f194f1e3f1981d8192833&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title14/14cfrv4_02.tpl#300 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120716073206/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?sid=f32ec318140f194f1e3f1981d8192833&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title14/14cfrv4_02.tpl%23300 |archive-date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> This is in accordance with the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act passed by Congress in 2004,<ref name="SpaceTourismCongress">{{cite news |last=Boyle |first=Alan |title=Private-spaceflight bill signed into law |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6682611 |date=December 23, 2004 |newspaper=[[NBC News]] |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028043412/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6682611/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which required that NASA and the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] to allow paying passengers fly on suborbital launch vehicles at their own risk.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2004 |title=Private-spaceflight bill signed into law |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6682611 |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002024244/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6682611 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2010, the New Mexico legislature passed the Spaceflight Informed Consent Act. The SICA gives legal protection to companies who provide private space flights in the case of accidental harm or death to individuals. Participants sign an Informed Consent waiver, dictating that spaceflight operators cannot be held liable in the "death of a participant resulting from the inherent risks of space flight activities". Operators are however not covered in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nmlegis.gov/sessions/10%20Regular/final/SB0009.pdf |title=Committee Substitute for SB0009JUS |website=New Mexico Legislature |access-date=April 28, 2015 |archive-date=January 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119093747/http://www.nmlegis.gov/sessions/10%20Regular/final/SB0009.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2021, the FAA announced that starting in 2022, it would recognize on its official website those who travel to space.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=FAA Ends Commercial Space Astronaut Wings Program, Will Recognize Individuals Reaching Space on Website |url=https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-ends-commercial-space-astronaut-wings-program-will-recognize-individuals-reaching |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |archive-date=August 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819170720/https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-ends-commercial-space-astronaut-wings-program-will-recognize-individuals-reaching |url-status=live }}</ref> "Any individual who is on an FAA-licensed or permitted launch and reaches 50 statute miles above the surface of the Earth will be listed on the site."<ref name=":0" /> The announcement ended the [[Commercial astronaut|Commercial Space Astronaut Wings]] program, under which the FAA had offered commercial astronaut wings to individuals on private spacecraft who made it above 50 miles (80 kilometers) in altitude above Earth since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Elizabeth Howell |date=December 10, 2021 |title=FAA ending commercial astronaut wings program as more people reach space |url=https://www.space.com/faa-commercial-wings-program-ends-astronauts |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002024244/https://www.space.com/faa-commercial-wings-program-ends-astronauts |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Legal issues and challenges=== With the increasing advent of sub-orbital flights, there are growing concerns that the present international framework is insufficient to address the significant issues raised by space tourism. The concerns relate to commercial Liability, insurance, consumer protection, passenger safety, environmental impact, and emergency response.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Padhy |first1=Ankit Kumar |last2=Padhy |first2=Amit Kumar |date=July 1, 2021 |title=Legal conundrums of space tourism |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021AcAau.184..269P |journal=Acta Astronautica |volume=184 |pages=269–273 |doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.04.024 |bibcode=2021AcAau.184..269P |issn=0094-5765 |access-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530001219/https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021AcAau.184..269P |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Apoorva |date=September 13, 2023 |title=Legal Considerations in Space Tourism: Navigating the Final Frontier |url=https://legaldesire.com/legal-considerations-in-space-tourism-navigating-the-final-frontier/ |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=Legal Desire Media and Insights |language=en-US |archive-date=October 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006172817/https://legaldesire.com/legal-considerations-in-space-tourism-navigating-the-final-frontier/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ==List of space tourism trips== The following list notes each trip taken by an individual for whom a fee was paid (by themselves or another party) to go above the [[Kármán Line]], the internationally recognized boundary of space at 100 km, or above the US definition of the boundary of space at 50 miles (80 km). It also includes future trips which are paid for and scheduled. {{sticky header}} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header" |- !scope="col"| Flight up<br />(craft) !scope="col"| Flight down<br />(craft) !scope="col"| Duration !scope="col"| Mission !scope="col"| Tourist(s) !scope="col"| Destination !scope="col"| Fee paid !scope="col"| Tour company !scope="col" class=unsortable|{{ref heading}} |- | {{sort|2001 4 28|April 28, 2001<br />([[Soyuz TM-32]])}} | {{sort|2001 5 6|May 6, 2001<br />([[Soyuz TM-31]])}} | 8 days | [[ISS EP-1]] | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dennis Tito]] | rowspan=8|[[International Space Station]] | {{US$|20}}{{nbsp}}million | rowspan=8| [[Space Adventures]] | <ref name="Tito" /> |- | {{sort|2002 4 25|April 25, 2002<br />([[Soyuz TM-34]])}} | {{sort|2002 5 5|May 5, 2002<br />([[Soyuz TM-33]])}} | 10 days | [[ISS EP-2]] | {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Mark Shuttleworth]] | {{US$|20}}{{nbsp}}million | |- | {{sort|2005 8 1|October 1, 2005<br />([[Soyuz TMA-7]])}} | {{sort|2005 8 10|October 10, 2005<br />([[Soyuz TMA-6]])}} | 10 days | [[ISS EP-3]] | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Gregory Olsen]] | {{US$|20}}{{nbsp}}million | |- | {{sort|2006 9 20|September 20, 2006<br />([[Soyuz TMA-9]])}} | {{sort|2006 9 29|September 29, 2006<br />([[Soyuz TMA-8]])}} | 10 days | [[ISS EP-4]] | {{flagicon|Iran}}/{{flagicon|USA}} [[Anousheh Ansari]] | {{US$|20}}{{nbsp}}million | |- | {{sort|2007 4 7|April 7, 2007<br />([[Soyuz TMA-10]])}} | {{sort|2007 4 21|April 21, 2007<br />([[Soyuz TMA-9]])}} | 10 days | [[ISS EP-12]] | {{flagicon|Hungary}}/{{flagicon|USA}} [[Charles Simonyi]] | {{US$|25}}{{nbsp}}million | |- | {{sort|2008 10 12|October 12, 2008<br />([[Soyuz TMA-13]])}} | {{sort|2008 10 24|October 24, 2008<br />([[Soyuz TMA-12]])}} | 13 days | [[ISS EP-13]] | {{flagicon|UK}}/{{flagicon|USA}} [[Richard Garriott]] | {{US$|30}}{{nbsp}}million | <ref name="Chron">{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6052360.html|title=$30 million buys Austin resident a ride on Soyuz mission|access-date=October 12, 2008|publisher=[[The Houston Chronicle]]|date=2008|last=Carreau|first=Mark|url-status=live|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629123512/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6052360.html}}</ref> |- | {{sort|2009 3 26|March 26, 2009<br />([[Soyuz TMA-14]])}} | {{sort|2009 4 8|April 8, 2009<br />([[Soyuz TMA-13]])}} | 14 days | [[ISS EP-14]] | {{flagicon|Hungary}}/{{flagicon|USA}} [[Charles Simonyi]] | {{US$|35}}{{nbsp}}million | |- | {{sort|2009 9 30|September 30, 2009<br />([[Soyuz TMA-16]])}} | {{sort|2009 10 11|October 11, 2009<br />([[Soyuz TMA-14]])}} | 12 days | [[ISS EP-15]] | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Guy Laliberté]] | {{US$|35}}{{nbsp}}million | <ref name="canada">{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/sep/30/guy-laliberte-clown-space-circus |title= Circus tycoon Guy Laliberté becomes first clown in space |access-date= October 1, 2009 |newspaper=The Guardian|date= October 1, 2009 |agency= Associated Press |location= London |archive-date= September 7, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130907125439/http://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/sep/30/guy-laliberte-clown-space-circus |url-status= live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2021 7 20|July 20, 2021<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2021 7 20|July 20, 2021<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes | [[Blue Origin NS-16|NS-16]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jeff Bezos]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mark Bezos]]|{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Oliver Daemen]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Wally Funk]]}} | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | | rowspan=1|[[Blue Origin]] | <ref name="VOI">{{cite news| url=https://voi.id/en/technology/68321/oliver-daemen-youngest-astronaut-candidate-to-fly-with-jeff-bezos| title=Oliver Daemen, Youngest Astronaut Candidate To Fly With Jeff Bezos| access-date=July 21, 2021| website=VOI| date=July 19, 2021| archive-date=July 23, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723034319/https://voi.id/en/technology/68321/oliver-daemen-youngest-astronaut-candidate-to-fly-with-jeff-bezos| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blue Origin's first astronaut spaceflight breaks four Guinness World Records titles |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/first-astronaut-crew-receive-guinness-world-records |website=blueorigin.com |access-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023160010/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/first-astronaut-crew-receive-guinness-world-records |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2021 9 16|September 16, 2021<br />([[Crew Dragon Resilience|Crew Dragon ''Resilience'']])}} | {{sort|2021 9 19|September 19, 2021 <br />([[Crew Dragon Resilience|Crew Dragon ''Resilience'']])}} | 3 days | [[Inspiration4]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jared Isaacman]]||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sian Proctor]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Hayley Arceneaux]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Christopher Sembroski]]}} | [[Low Earth Orbit]] | | [[SpaceX]] | <ref name="ArsTechFEB21">{{cite news|last=Berger|first=Eric|title=SpaceX announces first "free flyer" human spaceflight|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/spacex-announces-first-free-flyer-human-spaceflight/|website=[[Ars Technica]]|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201223311/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/spacex-announces-first-free-flyer-human-spaceflight/|archive-date=February 1, 2021|date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> |- | {{sort|2021 10 13|October 13, 2021<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2021 10 13|October 13, 2021<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes | [[Blue Origin NS-18|NS-18]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|Canada}} [[William Shatner]]|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Planet Labs|Chris Boshuizen]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Audrey Powers]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Glen de Vries]]|}} | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | | [[Blue Origin]] |<ref>{{cite web|last=Weitering|first=Hanneke|date=October 13, 2021|title=Blue Origin launches William Shatner and crew of 3 to the final frontier and back|url=https://www.space.com/william-shatner-blue-origin-crew-launch-success|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=Space.com|language=en|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174550/https://www.space.com/william-shatner-blue-origin-crew-launch-success|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | {{sort|2021 12 8|December 8, 2021<br />([[Soyuz MS-20]])}} | {{sort|2021 12 20|December 20, 2021<br />([[Soyuz MS-20]])}} | 12 days | [[ISS EP-20]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Yusaku Maezawa]]|{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Yozo Hirano]]}} | [[International Space Station]] | | [[Space Adventures]] | <ref>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/japanese-billionaire-russian-actress-to-fly-to-iss/|title=Japanese billionaire, Russian actress to fly to ISS|last=Foust|first=Jeff|newspaper=[[SpaceNews]]|date=May 13, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210603213500/https://spacenews.com/japanese-billionaire-russian-actress-to-fly-to-iss/|archive-date=June 3, 2021|access-date=May 14, 2021}}</ref><ref name="nsf-soyuz-ms-20-landing">{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/soyuz-ms-20-undocking/ |title=Soyuz MS-20 lands following 12-day ISS mission |website=NASASpaceflight.com |date=December 19, 2021 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110102142/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/soyuz-ms-20-undocking/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2021 12 11|December 11, 2021<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2021 12 11|December 11, 2021<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes | [[Blue Origin NS-19|NS-19]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Lane Bess]]|{{flagicon|USA}} Cameron Bess|{{flagicon|USA}} Evan Dick|{{flagicon|USA}} Laura Shepard Churchley|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Strahan]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Dylan Taylor (executive)|Dylan Taylor]]}} | rowspan=2|[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | | rowspan=2|[[Blue Origin]] | <ref name="nsf-bo-ns-19">{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/ns-19/ |title=Blue Origin launches NS-19 with full passenger complement |website=NASASpaceflight.com |date=December 11, 2021 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615072316/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/12/ns-19/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2022 3 31|March 31, 2022<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2022 3 31|March 31, 2022<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes | [[Blue Origin NS-20|NS-20]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} Marty Allen|{{flagicon|USA}} Sharon Hagle|{{flagicon|USA}} Marc Hagle|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jim Kitchen]]|{{flagicon|USA}} George Nield|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Gary Lai]]}} | | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=March 31, 2022 |title=Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches first New Shepard space crew of 2022 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/31/watch-live-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-new-shepard-ns-20-crew-to-space.html |access-date=June 8, 2022 |website=CNBC |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511045529/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/31/watch-live-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-launch-new-shepard-ns-20-crew-to-space.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2022 4 8|April 8, 2022 <br />([[Crew Dragon Endeavour|Crew Dragon ''Endeavour'']])}} | {{sort|2022 4 25|April 25, 2022 <br />([[Crew Dragon Endeavour|Crew Dragon ''Endeavour'']])}} | 17 days | [[Axiom Mission 1|Ax-1]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Eytan Stibbe]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Connor]]|{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Mark Pathy]]}} | [[International Space Station]] | {{US$|55}}{{nbsp}}million each | [[Axiom Space]] | <ref>{{cite tweet |author-link=Kathy Lueders |last=Lueders |first=Kathy |user=KathyLueders |number=1441439798791639041 |title=Great news! We are targeting Feb. 21 for the launch of the Axiom 1 mission to the @Space_Station – the first private astronaut mission to the microgravity laboratory with @Axiom_Space. Our work continues to open space to more people than ever. |date=September 24, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/09/boeing-still-troubleshooting-starliner-may-swap-out-service-module/ |title=Boeing still studying Starliner valve issues, with no launch date in sight |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=September 22, 2021 |access-date=September 22, 2021 |quote=Axiom's private mission to the space station on a Crew Dragon has been delayed until late February[.] |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922230335/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/09/boeing-still-troubleshooting-starliner-may-swap-out-service-module/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ArsTechFEB21"/><ref name="collectspaceAx1">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-012621a-axiom-space-ax1-crew-announce.html|title=Axiom Space names first private crew to launch to space station|publisher=collectSPACE|date=January 26, 2021|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310132331/http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-012621a-axiom-space-ax1-crew-announce.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nasa-20220202">{{cite web |last=Margetta |first=Robert |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-space-station-partners-approve-first-axiom-mission-astronauts |title=NASA, Space Station Partners Approve First Axiom Mission Astronauts |work=[[NASA]] |date=February 2, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402203128/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-space-station-partners-approve-first-axiom-mission-astronauts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2022 6 4|June 4, 2022<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2022 6 4|June 4, 2022<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes | [[Blue Origin NS-21|NS-21]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} Evan Dick|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Katya Echazarreta]]| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Hamish Harding]]|{{flagicon|Brazil}} Victor Correa Hespanha|{{flagicon|USA}} Jaison Robinson|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Victor Vescovo]]}} | rowspan=2|[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | | rowspan=2|[[Blue Origin]] | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Successfully Completes 21st Mission |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/ns-21-mission-updates |access-date=June 8, 2022 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US |archive-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605212241/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/ns-21-mission-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2022 8 4|August 4, 2022<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2022 8 4|August 4, 2022<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes | [[Blue Origin NS-22|NS-22]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Coby Cotton]]|{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Mário Ferreira]]| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Vanessa O'Brien]]|{{flagicon|USA}} Clint Kelly III|{{flagicon|Egypt}} Sara Sabry|{{flagicon|USA}} Steve Young}} | | <ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Origin Successfully Completes 22nd Mission to Space |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/ns-22-mission-updates |access-date=August 7, 2022 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808002919/https://www.blueorigin.com/news/ns-22-mission-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2023 5 21|May 21, 2023 <br />([[Crew Dragon Freedom|Crew Dragon ''Freedom'']])}} | {{sort|2023 5 31|May 31, 2023 <br />([[Crew Dragon Freedom|Crew Dragon ''Freedom'']])}} | 10 days | [[Axiom Mission 2|Ax-2]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Shoffner]]}} | [[International Space Station]] | | [[Axiom Space]] | <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.axiomspace.com/news/category/Ax-2+Mission |title=Axiom Space to Hold All-Crew Press Conference Following Ax-2 Mission to Space Station |date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=[[Axiom Space]] |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531210552/https://www.axiomspace.com/news/category/Ax-2+Mission |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | {{sort|2023 8 10|August 10, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | {{sort|2023 8 10|August 10, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | 15 minutes | [[Galactic 02]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Jon Goodwin (canoeist)|Jon Goodwin]]|{{flagicon|Antigua and Barbuda}} [[Keisha Schahaff]]|{{flagicon|Antigua and Barbuda}} [[Anastatia Mayers]]}} | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />(~90 km) | | rowspan=5| [[Virgin Galactic]] | |- | {{sort|2023 9 8|September 8, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | {{sort|2023 9 8|September 8, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | 15 minutes | [[Galactic 03]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|SA}}/{{flagicon|UK}} [[Timothy Nash]]|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Adrian Reynard]]|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Ken Baxter (businessman)|Ken Baxter]]}} | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />(~90 km) | | |- | {{sort|2023 10 6|October 6, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | {{sort|2023 10 6|October 6, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | 15 minutes | [[Galactic 04]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{flagicon|PAK}} [[Namira Salim]]|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Trevor Beattie]]|{{flagicon|USA}} Ron Rosano}} | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />(~90 km) | | |- | {{sort|2023 11 2|November 2, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | {{sort|2023 11 2|November 2, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | 15 minutes | [[Galactic 05]] | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ketty Maisonrouge]] | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />(~87.2 km) | | |- | {{sort|2024 1 26|January 26, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | {{sort|2024 1 26|January 26, 2023<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | 15 minutes | [[Galactic 06]] | {{flagicon|UKR}}/{{flagicon|USA}} Lina Borozdina<br>{{flagicon|US}} Robie Vaughn<br>{{flagicon|AUT}} Franz Haider<br>{{flagicon|USA}} Neil Kornswiet | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />(~88.8 km) | | |- | {{sort|2024 5 19|May 19, 2024<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2024 5 19|May 19, 2024<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 9 minutes, 53 seconds | [[Blue Origin NS-25|NS-25]] | {{Flagicon|USA}} Mason Angel<br>{{Flagicon|FRA}} Sylvain Chiron<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ed Dwight]]<br>{{Flagicon|US}} Carol Schaller<br>{{Flagicon|US}} [[Kenneth Hess]]<br>{{Flagicon|IND}} Thotakura Gopichand |[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | |[[Blue Origin]] | |- | {{sort|2024 6 8|June 8, 2024<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | {{sort|2024 6 8|June 8, 2024<br />([[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']])}} | 15 minutes | [[Galactic 07]] | {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Tuva Cihangir Atasever]]<br>{{flagicon|ITA}} Giorgio Manenti<br>{{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|ISR}} Irving Pergament<br>{{flagicon|USA}} Andy Sadhwani | [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />(~87.5 km) | | [[Virgin Galactic]] | |- | {{sort|2024 8 29|August 29, 2024<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2024 8 29|August 29, 2024<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes, 8 seconds | [[Blue Origin NS-26|NS-26]] | {{flagicon|UK}}/{{Flagicon|SGP}} Nicolina Elrick<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} Karsen Kitchen<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} Rob Ferl<br>{{Flagicon|UKR}} Eugene Grin<br>{{flagicon|IRN}}/{{Flagicon|US}} Eiman Jahangir<br>{{Flagicon|US}}/{{Flagicon|ISR}} Ephraim Rabin |[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | |[[Blue Origin]] | |- | {{sort|2024 11 22|November 22, 2024<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2024 11 22|November 22, 2024<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes, 14 seconds | [[Blue Origin NS-28|NS-28]] | {{flagicon|US}} James (J.D.) Russell<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Emily Calandrelli]]<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} Austin Litteral<br>{{Flagicon|US}} Marc Hagle (2)<br>{{Flagicon|US}} Sharon Hagle (2)<br>{{Flagicon|CAN}} Henry (Hank) Wolfond |[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | |[[Blue Origin]] | |- | {{sort|2025 2 25|February 25, 2025<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | {{sort|2025 2 25|February 25, 2025<br />([[RSS First Step|RSS ''First Step'']])}} | 10 minutes, 8 seconds | [[Blue Origin NS-30|NS-30]] | {{flagicon|US}} [[Lane Bess]] (2)<br>{{Flagicon|SPA}} Jesús Calleja<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} Dr. Richard Scott<br>{{Flagicon|US}} Tushar Shah<br>{{Flagicon|Australia}} Elaine Chia Hyde<br>{{Flagicon|Australia}} Robert Wilson |[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | |[[Blue Origin]] | |- | {{sort|2025 4 1|April 1, 2025<br />([[Crew Dragon Resilience|Crew Dragon ''Resilience'']])}} | {{sort|2025 4 4|April 4, 2025 <br />([[Crew Dragon Resilience|Crew Dragon ''Resilience'']])}} | 4 days | [[Fram2]] | {{Unbulleted list|{{Flagicon|Malta}}{{nnbsp}}/{{nnbsp}}{{Flagicon|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}{{Efn|Wang was born in [[China]] but lives primarily in [[Svalbard]] and since 2023 is also a citizen of [[Malta]] and [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]] through their [[Immigrant investor programs|golden visa]] programs. He will wear the flag of Malta on his spacesuit during the spaceflight.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1861772649870791005 |user=rprogge |title=We just completed another round of training! |first=Rabea |last=Rogge |author-link=Rabea Rogge |date=November 27, 2024 |access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>|group=crew}} [[Chun Wang]]||{{Flagicon|Norway}}{{nnbsp}}/{{nnbsp}}{{Flagicon|UK}}{{Efn|Mikkelsen was born in the [[United Kingdom]], but is now a citizen of [[Norway]]. She will wear the flag of Norway on her spacesuit during the spaceflight.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bjørnstad |first=Nora Thorp |date=December 2, 2024 |title=Jannicke Mikkelsen blir første nordmann i verdensrommet: Her er det første bildet |trans-title=Jannicke Mikkelsen becomes the first Norwegian in space: Here is the first photo |url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/vg8515/jannicke-mikkelsen-blir-foerste-nordmann-i-verdensrommet-her-er-det-foerste-bildet |access-date=March 10, 2025 |work=VG |language=no}}</ref>|group=crew}} [[Jannicke Mikkelsen]]|{{Flagicon|Australia}} [[Eric Philips (explorer)|Eric Philips]]|{{Flagicon|GER}} [[Rabea Rogge]]}} | [[Polar orbit|Polar]] [[Low Earth Orbit|LEO]] ([[Retrograde orbit|Retrograde]]) | | [[SpaceX]] | |- | {{sort|2025 4 14|April 14, 2025<br />([[RSS Karman Line|RSS ''Karman Line'']])}} | {{sort|2025 4 14|April 14, 2025<br />([[RSS Karman Line|RSS ''Karman Line'']])}} | 10 minutes, 21 seconds | [[Blue Origin NS-31|NS-31]] | {{Flagicon|USA}}/{{Flagicon|Bahamas}} [[Aisha Bowe]]<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Amanda Nguyen]]<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Gayle King]]<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Kerianne Flynn]]<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Katy Perry]]<br>{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Lauren Sánchez]] |[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]<br />([[Kármán line]]) | |[[Blue Origin]] | |} ==Criticism of the term ''space tourist''== Many private space travelers have objected to the term ''space tourist'', often pointing out that their role went beyond that of an observer, since they also carried out scientific experiments in the course of their journey. [[Richard Garriott]] additionally emphasized that his training was identical to the requirements of non-Russian Soyuz crew members, and that teachers and other non-professional astronauts chosen to fly with NASA are called astronauts. He has said that if the distinction has to be made, he would rather be called "private astronaut" than "tourist".<ref name="Garriott">{{cite web | url=http://www.richardinspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.welcome&theyear=2008&themonth=1&view=18 | title=Do Not Call Me A Space Tourist! | website=Richard Garriot's Space Mission | date=January 31, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627164655/http://www.richardinspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.welcome&theyear=2008&themonth=1&view=18 | archive-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref> [[Mark Shuttleworth]] described himself as a "pioneer of commercial space travel".<ref>{{cite web |last=Knight |first=Will |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2190-space-tourist-insists-on-pioneering-role.html |title='Space tourist' insists on pioneering role |work=New Scientist |date=April 20, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430211457/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4623674/ |archive-date=April 30, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gregory Olsen]] prefers "private researcher",<ref>{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/4623674 |title=Space millionaire to mix science with pleasure |website=NBC News |date=March 29, 2004 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135813/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4623674/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Anousheh Ansari]] prefers the term "private space explorer". Other advocates of private spaceflight object to the term on similar grounds. [[Rick Tumlinson]] of the [[Space Frontier Foundation]], for example, has said: "I hate the word tourist, and I always will ... 'Tourist' is somebody in a flowered shirt with three cameras around his neck."<ref>{{cite web | last = Foust | first = Jeff | title = Is it time to dump the t-word? | url = http://www.thespacereview.com/article/280/1 | website = The Space Review | date = November 29, 2004 | access-date = June 3, 2008 | archive-date = May 16, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516202303/http://thespacereview.com/article/280/1 | url-status = live }}</ref> Russian cosmonaut [[Maksim Surayev]] told the press in 2009 not to describe [[Guy Laliberté]] as a tourist: "It's become fashionable to speak of space tourists. He is not a tourist but a participant in the mission."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Circus_man_ready_to_make_fairy_tale_come_true_in_space_999.html |title=Circus man ready to make 'fairy tale' come true in space |website=Space Travel |date=September 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430211713/http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Circus_man_ready_to_make_fairy_tale_come_true_in_space_999.html |archive-date=April 30, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> "[[Spaceflight participant]]" is the official term used by NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency to distinguish between private space travelers and career astronauts. Tito, Shuttleworth, Olsen, Ansari, and Simonyi were designated as such during their respective space flights. NASA also lists [[Christa McAuliffe]] as a spaceflight participant (although she did not pay a fee), apparently due to her non-technical duties aboard the [[STS-51-L]] flight. The US Federal Aviation Administration awards the title of "[[commercial astronaut]]" to trained crew members of privately funded spacecraft. ==Attitudes towards space tourism== A 2018 survey from the PEW Research Center identifies the top three motivations for a customer to purchase a flight into space as:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/07/space-tourism-majority-of-americans-say-they-wouldnt-be-interested/ |title=Space Tourism? Majority of Americans say they wouldn't be interested |work=PEW Research Center |date=June 7, 2018 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118183020/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/07/space-tourism-majority-of-americans-say-they-wouldnt-be-interested/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * To experience something unique ( e.g. pioneering, one of a kind) * To see the view of Earth from space * To learn more about the world The PEW study also found that only 43% of Americans would be definitely or probably interested in going into space. NASA astronaut [[K. Megan McArthur|Megan McArthur]] has a message to space tourists: spaceflight is uncomfortable and risky, and takes grit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McFall-Johnsen |first=Morgan |title=NASA astronaut Megan McArthur's warning to space tourists: Spaceflight is uncomfortable and risky. It takes grit. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-astronaut-warns-tourists-that-spaceflight-is-uncomfortable-risky-2021-8 |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002024244/https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-astronaut-warns-tourists-that-spaceflight-is-uncomfortable-risky-2021-8 |url-status=live }}</ref> A web-based survey suggested that over 70% of those surveyed wanted less than or equal to two weeks in space; in addition, 88% wanted to spacewalk, of whom 14% would pay a 50% premium for the experience, and 21% wanted a hotel or space station.<ref name="Space.comSurvey">{{cite news |last=David |first=Leonard |url=http://www.space.com/news/061003_tourism_survey.html |title=Space Tourism Survey Shows Cost, Access Key Selling Points |work=Space.com |date=October 3, 2006 |access-date=December 10, 2006 |archive-date=September 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929003638/http://www.space.com/news/061003_tourism_survey.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The concept has met with some criticism; [[Günter Verheugen]], vice-president of the [[European Commission]], said of the EADS Astrium Space Tourism Project: "It's only for the super-rich, which is against my social convictions".<ref>{{cite web | title = EU official balks at space tourism | date = June 15, 2007 | url = http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Rest+of+the+World&month=June2007&file=World_News2007061523649.xml |work=The Peninsula |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116184043/http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Rest+of+the+World&month=June2007&file=World_News2007061523649.xml |archive-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref> On October 14, 2021, [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge|Prince William]] suggested that entrepreneurs should focus on saving [[Earth]] rather than engaging in space tourism and also warned about a rise in "[[climate anxiety]]" among younger generations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prince William: Saving Earth should come before space tourism|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58903078|website=BBC|date=October 14, 2021|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014041523/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58903078|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Environmental effects=== [[File:Modelled influence of a decade of contemporary rocket launch and re-entry heating emissions on stratospheric chemical composition.jpg|thumb|Influence of a decade of contemporary rocket launch and re-entry heating emissions on stratospheric chemical composition<ref name="10.1029/2021EF002612"/>]] A 2010 study published in ''[[Geophysical Research Letters]]'' raised concerns that the growing commercial spaceflight industry could accelerate global warming. The study, funded by NASA and The Aerospace Corporation, simulated the impact of 1,000 suborbital launches of [[hybrid rocket]]s from a single location, calculating that this would release a total of 600 tonnes of [[black carbon]] into the stratosphere. They found that the resultant layer of soot particles remained relatively localized, with only 20% of the carbon straying into the southern hemisphere, thus creating a strong hemispherical asymmetry.<ref name="GRL">{{cite journal |first1=Martin |last1=Ross |first2=Michael |last2=Mills |first3=Darin |last3=Toohey |title=Potential climate impact of black carbon emitted by rockets |url=http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/gl1024/2010GL044548/ |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |volume=37 |issue=24 |year=2010 |pages=n/a |doi=10.1029/2010GL044548 |bibcode=2010GeoRL..3724810R |doi-access=free |access-date=July 27, 2012 |archive-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001054452/https://www.agu.org/Publish-with-AGU/Publish |url-status=live }}</ref> This unbalance would cause the temperature to decrease by about {{convert|0.4|C-change}} in the tropics and subtropics, whereas the temperature at the poles would increase by between {{convert|0.2|and|1|C-change}}. The ozone layer would also be affected, with the tropics losing up to 1.7% of ozone cover, and the polar regions gaining 5–6%.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Adam |last=Mann |url=http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101022/full/news.2010.558.html |title=Space tourism to accelerate climate change |journal=Nature |date=October 22, 2010 |doi=10.1038/news.2010.558 |access-date=July 27, 2012 |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721025559/http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101022/full/news.2010.558.html |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> The researchers stressed that these results should not be taken as "a precise forecast of the climate response to a specific launch rate of a specific rocket type", but as a demonstration of the sensitivity of the atmosphere to the large-scale disruption that commercial space tourism could bring.<ref name=GRL/> A 2022 study estimated the [[air pollution]] impacts on climate change and the ozone layer from rocket launches and re-entry of reusable components and [[space debris|debris]] in 2019 and from a theoretical future [[space industry]] extrapolated from the "[[billionaire space race]]". It concludes that substantial effects from routine space tourism should "motivate [[space law|regulation]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=Space tourism from companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin could undo work to repair ozone layer, study finds |url=https://news.sky.com/story/space-tourism-from-companies-like-spacex-virgin-galactic-and-blue-origin-could-undo-work-to-repair-ozone-layer-study-finds-12640296 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |work=Sky News |language=en |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719215649/https://news.sky.com/story/space-tourism-from-companies-like-spacex-virgin-galactic-and-blue-origin-could-undo-work-to-repair-ozone-layer-study-finds-12640296 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="10.1029/2021EF002612">{{cite journal |last1=Ryan |first1=Robert G. |last2=Marais |first2=Eloise A.|author2-link=Eloise Marais |last3=Balhatchet |first3=Chloe J. |last4=Eastham |first4=Sebastian D. |title=Impact of Rocket Launch and Space Debris Air Pollutant Emissions on Stratospheric Ozone and Global Climate |journal=Earth's Future |date=June 2022 |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=e2021EF002612 |doi=10.1029/2021EF002612 |pmid=35865359 |pmc=9287058 |bibcode=2022EaFut..1002612R |language=en |issn=2328-4277}}</ref> ===Education and advocacy=== Several organizations have been formed to promote the space tourism industry, including the Space Tourism Society, Space Future, and HobbySpace. ''UniGalactic Space Travel Magazine'' is a bi-monthly educational publication covering space tourism and space exploration developments in companies like SpaceX, Orbital Sciences, Virgin Galactic and organizations like NASA. Classes in space tourism are currently taught at the [[Rochester Institute of Technology]] in New York,<ref>{{cite web |first=Travis |last=Carter |url=http://journalism.nyu.edu/publishing/archives/livewire/archived/vacation_final_frontier/index.html |title=Vacation: The Final Frontier |website=NYU Livewire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430210327/http://journalism.nyu.edu/publishing/archives/livewire/archived/vacation_final_frontier/index.html |archive-date=April 30, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Keio University]] in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robert-goehlich.de/lectures01.html |title=Space Tourism 1 Lecture |website=Robert A. Goehlich |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325064140/http://www.robert-goehlich.de/lectures01.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University|Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]] in Florida launched a worldwide space tourism course in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worldwide Course Prepares Students for Space Tourism Business |url=http://news.erau.edu/headlines/worldwide-course-prepares-students-for-space-tourism-business |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=Embry-Riddle Newsroom |language=en |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002232304/https://news.erau.edu/headlines/worldwide-course-prepares-students-for-space-tourism-business |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Economic potential=== A 2010 report from the [[Federal Aviation Administration]], titled "The Economic Impact of Commercial Space Transportation on the U.S. Economy in 2009", cites studies done by Futron, an aerospace and technology-consulting firm, which predict that space tourism could become a billion-dollar market within 20 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Economic Impact of Commercial Space Transportation on the U.S. Economy in 2009|url=http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/Economic%20Impact%20Study%20September%202010_20101026_PS.pdf|website=Federal Aviation Administration|date=September 2010|page=11|access-date=May 6, 2012|archive-date=January 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126030732/http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/economic%20impact%20study%20september%202010_20101026_ps.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Eight tourists reached orbit between 2001 and 2009. In 2011 Space Adventures suggested that this number could reach 140 by 2020,<ref>{{cite web|last=Spotts|first=Pete|title=A space tourism trip to the moon? It could happen by 2015|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0506/A-space-tourism-trip-to-the-moon-It-could-happen-by-2015.|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=May 6, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2012|archive-date=August 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802034801/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0506/A-space-tourism-trip-to-the-moon-It-could-happen-by-2015.|url-status=live}}</ref> but with commercial crewed rockets only just beginning to enter service, such numbers have yet to be achieved. According to a 2022 report by [https://www.researchandmarkets.com/report/space-tourism Research and Markets], titled "Global Space Tourism Market," the global space tourism industry is projected to reach US$8.67 billion by 2030, with an estimated [[compound annual growth rate]] (CAGR) of 37.1% between 2022 and 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2022 |title=Global Space Tourism Market |url=https://www.researchandmarkets.com/report/space-tourism |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=researchandmarkets.com |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002024246/https://www.researchandmarkets.com/report/space-tourism |url-status=live }}</ref> ==See also== {{Portal|Spaceflight}} * [[Commercialization of space]] * [[Effect of spaceflight on the human body]] * [[Private spaceflight]] * [[Space flight participant]] * [[Sub-orbital spaceflight]] * [[Commercial astronaut]] ==References== {{Notelist}}{{Reflist|30em}} ==Further reading== * {{cite conference |url=http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/prospects_of_space_tourism.shtml |title=Prospects of Space Tourism |first=Sven |last=Abitzsch |date= May 15, 1996 |conference=9th European Aerospace Congress – Visions and Limits of Long-term Aerospace Developments |location=Aerospace Institute, [[Technische Universität Berlin]]|publisher=Space Future Consulting}} * {{cite book|last=Manber|first=Jeffrey|author-link=Jeffrey Manber|title=Selling Peace: Inside the Soviet Conspiracy That Transformed the U.S. Space Program |date=2009 |publisher=Apogee |location=Burlington, Ont|isbn=978-1-926592-08-4}} * {{cite book |last1=Klemm |first1=Gregor |last2=Markkanen |first2=Sini |title=The Long Tail of Tourism: Holiday Niches and their Impact on Mainstream Tourism |date=2011 |publisher=Gabler |isbn=978-3-8349-6231-7 |pages=95–103 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-8349-6231-7_11 |language=en |chapter=Space tourism |doi=10.1007/978-3-8349-6231-7_11}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Space tourism}} * {{Wikivoyage inline|Space}} * [http://www.space-tourists-film.com ''Space Tourists''], a documentary film by [[Christian Frei]] * [https://spacetourismsociety.org ''Space Tourism Society''], a non-profit research and advocacy group {{Space tourism}} {{Spaceflight}} {{Tourism}} {{inspace}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Space Tourism}} [[Category:Space tourism| ]] [[Category:Space tourists| ]] [[Category:American inventions]] [[Category:Russian inventions]] [[Category:Types of tourism]] [[Category:2001 introductions]]
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