Space Tourism: Its Your Turn to Be the Astronaut

It is about five decades since the first person, Neil Armstrong, went to the moon and came back. Now, can you imagine yourself on space, but of course on a comfier, more advanced craft than Apollo 1?  That is no longer a myth – space tourism is already happening, and you can book your place. Here, we are going to tell you about companies ready to take you to the space. It will be one fine ride!

A Brief about Past Space Tourists

Before we can look at where you can book your place for the next travel to space, it is important to answer the question: “What was the past tourists’ experience?” The first space tourist to visit was Dennis Tito, an American businessman who spent eight awesome days away from the earth’s atmosphere.

At first, Tito wanted to use NASA, but the organization declined. So Space Adventures approached Roscosmos, a Russian agency that got Tito a seat in a Soyuz.

After Tito, other six tourists have toured the outer space. Now, the growing number of tourists has seen more companies move in to launch their own space programs. So, if you are interested in space touring, it will be a lot simpler now.

Top Space Tourism Companies

• Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic aims to take space tourists on unique suborbital flights in its two SpaceShipTwo crafts. The program was started by Sir Richard Branson in 2004. Note that unlike other space crafts that launch from the ground, the spacecrafts in Virgin Galactic will be launched from an aircraft.

Note that unlike Soyuz that allowed Tito to take more than one week, SpaceShipTwo will only take a short moment in space. This is why the cost of its tickets are also cheaper.

• Orion Span

Orion Span has taken the idea of space tourism a notch higher and it is referring itself as the first space hotel. Using the latest proprietary technology, Orion Span targets t build two private suites that will allow a maximum of four guests and two crew for every stay. To use Orion Span, visitors require 24 months of training. For a 12-day mission, every guest will pay $9.5 million.

• Space Adventures

Space Adventures gained huge praise after organizing the first seven space tourists. Although no new guests have been sent to space since 2009 because of capacity issues, their experience is worth counting on. Note that Space Adventures does not have its own spacecrafts. Instead, they partner with other agencies such as Roscosmos to take guests to space through Soyuz.

These are just a few companies you can book your space withy right away. Others include Roscosmos, KosmoKurs, and Axiom Space. So, if you want to travel to space, the time is nigh.

Answers to Common Questions about Space Tourism

Taking a trip to the outer may sound much like fiction, right? But it is now possible. Unlike the days of Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, space tourism today does not require scientific qualifications. For many people interested in travelling to space, many questions are running through their minds. Is it possible to travel to space? How much does it cost? Is it safe? Well, here are the answers to the common questions about space tourism.

What is Space Tourism?

Space tourism is travelling in outer space. You simply get into spacecraft, and off you go out of the earth’s atmosphere. Any interested person can travel to space and no need for a background in space science. Indeed, the first few people to travel to space were business people. However, you might need some training before leaving for space.

Which Companies and Tour Agencies are involved?

The first space tourism flight was organized by Space Adventures together with Roscosmos. But more companies have entered the space tourism industry to cater to the growing demand. Top space tourism companies today include Virgin Galactic started by Sir Richard Branson, SpaceX started by Elon Musk, and Blue Origin.

What if the History of Space Tourism?

Space tourism dated back to 2000s when Space Adventures, a Russian Space Agency, organized and took the first seven tourists into space. The first person to travel to space as a tourist was Dennis Tito. Despite the growing demand for space tourists, the space agency canceled the program in 2010 after realizing that members of the Nasa’s Space Shuttle program wanted to book some space.

What is the Difference between Early Space Tourism and Current One?

When space tourism started in 2000s, the agencies at the heart of the industry, such as Space Adventures did not have own space crafts. Instead, they partnered with Russian space missions to get seats on existing crafts. But the companies involved today are working on their own crafts. For example, Virgin Galactic is developing own SpaceShipTwo while Orion Span is preparing to build a hotel in the outer space.  

How Much will I Pay for Space Tourism?

Well, it will not be cheap. Most space tourism companies are charging in excess of one million for a few days’ tour in space. For example, Orion Span has tagged its much-hyped 12-day space tour at $9.5 million. The cheapest company is Virgin Galactic that is charging $250,000 or a seat. However, the trip is very short.

Facts that No One Is Willing to Tell You about Space Tourism!

You have probably read about the epic Neil Armstrong travel to the moon. Now, the next big thing is space tourism. As the name suggests, space tourism, means travelling to beyond the earth’s atmosphere for leisure. The advanced technology has now made it easier, faster, and more enjoyable.

Already, nine people have toured the outer space and the demand is growing. So, if you are interested in traveling beyond the earth’s atmosphere, it is important to understand all the facts. Here, we are going to tell you about facts that no one is willing to tell you.

Travelling to Space is Expensive

If you think of space tourism, it might be the single most expensive undertaking you have ever thought of. Well, the experience of seeing the wonders of outer space is indeed scintillating. But this is only for people who can afford to spend millions of dollars on a few days trip. Are you ready for that?

Roscosmos, one of the companies involved in taking the first space tourists, has tagged a one week visit to outer space for $40 million/ client. Orion Span, another company planning to take visitors to outer space after building a hotel there has indicated it will charge $9.5 million per person for a 12-day mission.

You will be Able to Make a Call from Space

Imagine making a call to your significant other, mom, dad, or workplace colleague from the moon. As interest in space tourism gears up, telecoms have also launched initiatives to provide telephone network on the moon. For example, Nokia has indicated it plans to provide network services there so that you can even stream videos from space. So, if you see anything interesting or funny, simply stream it live to your website site or share it on Facebook. See, no need to keep them waiting until the end of the excursion.

Travelling to Space can Cause Vision Challenges

Travelling to space can result in vision issues. Over 50% of Americans who travelled to space reported vision problems. NASA researchers indicated that the problem might be caused by a shift in body fluids because of low gravity. The fluid shift is believed to put pressure on eye nerves causing strained vision. Well, this is one of the cons of travelling to space!

Travelling to Space Might Help to Rejuvenate Your Skin

One unique benefit of travelling to space is that it might help the dead skin to fall off, leaving you with a soft and attractive outlook. After a long stay in the space, Scott Kelly’s DNA was found to have longer chromosomes. This was interesting because people’s chromosomes shorten as they age. While no studies have confirmed the relationship between aging and space travel, it might be your magic solution to get back younger, ten years!