SpaceX is the most ambitious space tourism project because it plans to send tourists to the Moon and Mars. The company is already sending cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) using the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX is also building a spacecraft called Starship that can carry up to 100 people to the Moon and Mars.
Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, plans to send tourists to suborbital space on its spacecraft called New Shepard. The spacecraft can carry up to six people and has already completed multiple successful test flights. Blue Origin also plans to send tourists to the Moon using a lunar lander called Blue Moon.
Virgin Galactic, owned by Richard Branson, plans to send tourists to suborbital space on its spacecraft called SpaceShipTwo. The spacecraft can carry up to six people and has already completed multiple successful test flights. Virgin Galactic has over 600 reservations for its space tourism flights.
Orion Span plans to build a luxury space hotel called Aurora Station in low Earth orbit. The hotel will accommodate four guests and two crew members for 12 days. Guests will participate in scientific experiments, enjoy views of Earth, and experience zero-gravity. Orion Span plans to launch Aurora Station in 2022.
Bigelow Aerospace plans to build a space hotel called B330 in low Earth orbit that can accommodate six people. The hotel will have amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping quarters. The company has already launched two inflatable modules called BEAM and TransHab to the ISS to test their technology.
Axiom Space plans to build a space station in low Earth orbit that can accommodate tourists, researchers, and government astronauts. The company has already signed a contract with NASA to send a crew to the ISS in 2021. Axiom Space plans to launch its own space station in 2024.
Space Adventures is a company that has already sent seven tourists to the ISS on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The company is now partnering with SpaceX to send tourists on a mission around the Moon. The mission is planned for late 2021 or early 2022.
Red Planet Tours plans to send tourists to Mars using the Mars One mission concept. The mission involves a one-way trip to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. The company plans to select candidates through a reality TV show and train them for the mission.
The Mars Society is a non-profit organization that aims to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. The organization has conducted multiple simulated Mars missions on Earth to test its technology and prepare its crew members. The crew members live in a simulated Mars habitat for several months, conducting scientific experiments and performing tasks similar to those on Mars.
Interstellar Technologies is a Japanese company that plans to send tourists to suborbital space on its rocket called Momo. The rocket can carry up to three people and has already completed multiple test flights. The company is also developing a spacecraft called ZERO that can carry up to six people to an altitude of 100 km.
Space tourism is already available for suborbital flights, with companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin planning to launch their first flights in the near future. Space tourism to the Moon and Mars is expected to be available in the next decade.
Space tourism currently costs hundreds of thousands of dollars for suborbital flights, with prices expected to go down with increased competition. Space tourism to the Moon and Mars is expected to cost millions of dollars.
No, you do not need to be a trained astronaut to go to space for suborbital flights. However, space tourism to the Moon and Mars will require extensive training and physical preparation.
Space tourism is currently undergoing extensive safety testing and regulations to ensure the safety of passengers. However, space travel is inherently risky and has inherent dangers.
Space tourism can potentially inspire and educate the public about space exploration and its benefits. It can also generate revenue for space agencies and private companies, leading to further advancements in space technology.
Space tourism is expected to have a minimal impact on the environment because it involves relatively small numbers of people and short durations in space. However, space debris from launches and reentries can pose a risk to the environment.
Space tourism is expected to become more common in the future as space technology continues to advance and costs decrease. It may become a major industry with significant social and economic impacts.
The risks of space tourism include the risk of launch and reentry failures, as well as the risk of radiation exposure and health risks associated with space travel. However, these risks are currently being addressed by extensive safety testing and regulations.
You can become a space tourist by booking a flight with one of the space tourism companies or participating in a space tourism program such as the Mars One mission. However, space tourism is currently only available to a limited number of people due to its cost and physical requirements.
The benefits of space tourism include inspiration and education for the public, revenue generation for space agencies and private companies, and advancements in space technology. It can also lead to increased international cooperation and peace-building.