8 Space Tourism Companies that Are Making Space Vacations a Reality

Are you bored of going on regular vacations? Try something novel this time, like taking a vacation to Space.

What is Space Tourism?

Another specialized area of the aviation sector is space tourism. It aims to allow visitors to take on the role of astronauts while experiencing space travel for leisure, business, or other reasons. 

Among other space-related activities, space tourism can include going to museums with a space theme, witnessing rocket launches, or going to locations known for stargazing. Space tourism is now a reality. These journeys mark the start of what might develop into a thriving 21st-century sector.

Within the next 20 years, several space tourism corporations have already begun to plan the construction of orbital towns and suborbital vehicles. These businesses have put millions of dollars into the project. It is because they think the space tourism market is about to take off.

Space Tourism: An Exciting Prospect

The exciting notion of space travel has captured the attention of people worldwide. It gives people a unique chance to leave Earth’s atmosphere and discover the wonders of space for themselves. The excitement over space travel is a result of various things.

• As a significant step forward in human space exploration, space tourism makes the universe more accessible. It fosters awe and admiration for the magnificence and resilience of Earth by enabling regular people to experience life as an astronaut.
• The promise of technical improvements is there. Commercial space flight pushes the envelope regarding technology, propulsion systems, and spaceship architecture. This innovation could speed up space exploration endeavors and benefit several businesses.
• Private space enterprises are paving the path toward possible human settlements on extraterrestrial planets. This is for them to build the infrastructure and capacity to take tourists into space.
• Additionally, it can inspire a future generation of scientists, engineers, and travelers. Firsthand space experience can spark an interest in space-related professions and encourage young people to pursue scientific careers. They can then further contribute to humanity’s ongoing effort to explore and colonize the cosmos.

Space travel promises to be a life-changing experience filled with wonder and discovery. Read on to learn about companies that have or will make space tourism a reality.

Blue Origin

Jeff Bezos established the private aerospace corporation Blue Origin in 2000 to increase access to space flight. They have grand intentions for both scientific research and space travel. Their launch system, New Shepard, is made to transport people into suborbital space.

At a height of roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles), New Shepard may carry up to six persons per flight and cross the Kármán line. Kármán line is often regarded as the edge of space. The voyage lasts approximately ten minutes, during which travelers experience weightlessness for a few minutes before landing on Earth.

Blue Origin has not provided precise pricing information for individual tickets for New Shepard trips in terms of cost. Based on prior statements from the firm, it is assumed that ticket costs might range from $200,000 to $300,000 per person.

The mission of Blue Origin is to make space travel safe and enjoyable for as many people as possible by emphasizing passenger security and pleasure.

Virgin Galactic

Richard Branson established the space travel business Virgin Galactic. The company has created a vehicle, SpaceShipTwo, launched from Mothership Eve at 44,000 feet before being let off to achieve its suborbital altitude. 

The spaceship, VSS Unity, is intended to travel 110 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, exceeding the 100-kilometer space limit and giving its passengers a longer period of weightlessness. The spacecraft’s peak speed would be 4000 km/h (2485 mph).

The public can now purchase tickets from Virgin Galactic, with reservations starting at $450,000. The trip is anticipated to last between two and three hours in total, including climb and descent.

More than 700 aspiring space travelers have registered already with the company. With a capacity of six persons and two pilots per flight, the company guarantees a thrilling journey to space for all travel and space enthusiasts. Prepare for your trip to space and experience a world on top of this world.

Space Perspective

Private space tourism startup Space Perspective seeks to provide opulent balloon trips to the furthest reaches of space. The business intends to launch a sizeable helium-filled balloon known as the “Spaceship Neptune.” It will transport the “Spaceship Neptune Capsule,” a pressurized spacecraft that can carry a maximum of eight people and a crew of two.

The journey is anticipated to last around six hours, with about two of those hours spent at the highest altitude. Travelers will have the chance to witness stunning vistas of the Earth’s curved surface and the void of space. Their main objective is to give passengers an exceptional view of Earth from roughly 100,000 feet (or 30,480 meters).

The firm hasn’t released the total prices but wants to make space travel affordable for as many individuals as possible. Hence, reducing the environmental impact is crucial for the company’s mission.

SpaceX

Elon Musk established the commercial aerospace firm SpaceX in 2002. Their main goal is to advance space technology and open the door to interplanetary travel. SpaceX has a comprehensive launch schedule with several missions.

Some, like Falcon 1, and Falcon 9, were created and launched successfully. SpaceX is also actively developing the Starship spaceship for upcoming expeditions to Mars and beyond.

The Starship spacecraft has a capacity of up to 100 passengers per journey, making it ideal for big passenger loads. This would open up the prospect of profitable space travel and exploration.

Depending on the mission’s goals, SpaceX intends to reach Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is between 100 and 1,200 miles above the planet’s surface.

SpaceX has been developing reusable rocket technology to lower the cost of space travel. The company’s ultimate objective is to reduce the cost of space travel, while exact charges may vary depending on the mission’s specifications and passenger capacity.

However, the actual price for travelers has yet to be made public because it depends on the market and other variables.

Space Adventures

Space Adventures is the first firm you should contact if you want to get a ticket now and travel to space. The company has been the only business since its founding in 1998 to take paying consumers into space. Seven people paid for a stay between 7 and 16 days on the International Space Station between 2001 and 2009.

The precise information may change about the height attained during their missions. The height reached for ISS flights is roughly 408 kilometers (253 miles), which is the ISS’s altitude in Low Earth Orbit. It claims to guarantee a trip worth making to space for several days.

A Space Adventures voyage requires a sizable financial commitment. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent on previous expeditions. However, it’s essential to remember that costs and availability can alter over time due to market changes, technological developments, and other factors.

Zero2Infinity

Spanish aerospace company Zero2Infinity created a major impression when they revealed their plans to launch tourists into space. They were undoubtedly one of the first businesses to put up a workable idea for balloon-based space travel!

Commercial companies and research organizations have used high-altitude balloon testing and small payload launches by Zero2Infinity to test materials above the majority of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The basic plan is for passengers to board a “Bloon,” a spacecraft that can carry four passengers and two crew members all the way to the edge of space. After that, a helium balloon will carry you up to around 118,000 feet.

Before slowly returning to Earth by parachute, you can view the planet’s edge and the atmosphere’s thin line. The overall flight time will be close to four hours, but the website has no general cost information.

Boeing

Space launch vehicle development involves Boeing. One famous instance is the Boeing CST-100 Starliner, which delivers individuals and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). 

Along with SpaceX, Boeing is the second corporation hired to transport humans to the ISS. On some launches, Boeing will have vacant seats as part of their arrangement, which they can potentially sell to visitors.

Although NASA must first approve any visits to the ISS, the agency hinted in early 2019 that they would consider the possibility in the future for a fee of $35,000 per night. The company makes you indulge in a thrilling experience of space and cherish it throughout your life.

World View

High-altitude balloons are used by World View, a pioneer in space tourism, to carry customers to the verge of space for an unforgettable experience.

According to World View’s launch plans, passengers and research payloads will be taken by stratospheric balloons to heights of roughly 100,000 feet (30 km). It will first ascend slowly for 2 hours and then come down gradually for 1 hour.

The company’s Voyager spacecraft is built to comfortably and securely transport a maximum of eight people and two crew members. Although the flight’s duration is unknown, it is anticipated to last several hours, giving passengers plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking sights.

With a pressurized, climate control cabin, and reclining seats for total capacity, you can take a wholesome view of the space. So, get ready for a thrilling space adventure with this company that will let you explore new places in space.

Conclusion

Space tourism is an exciting and intriguing industry. It combines the excitement of adventure, scientific advancement, and the possibility of expanding human presence beyond Earth. 

Companies specializing in space tourism have become industry leaders in industrial space travel, providing opportunities for people to explore the wonders of space. Moreover, these businesses have successfully created advanced spacecraft and infrastructure to offer upscale suborbital and orbital flights. 

Future space tourism also contains enormous development potential and promises. Further to revolutionize our awareness of the cosmos while delivering awe-inspiring experiences for people who dare to journey beyond Earth. Moreover, plenty of businesses are entering the marketplace with technological advancements.

Next, you may also explore some Star tracker apps for astrophotography.