Space Tourism: The Latest News, Features and Photos

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Latest about space tourism

four astronauts in spacesuits with arms crossed and visors up

SpaceX Polaris Dawn astronauts will conduct high-flying research in Earth orbit

By Elizabeth Howell published

Polaris Dawn has lots of science on board. The SpaceX mission will fly high in Earth orbit to investigate how the human body changes under the extreme conditions of space.

Human Spaceflight
a white rocket launches into a blue sky, as seen from the ground

Blue Origin's next space tourism flight will launch on Aug. 29

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin is targeting Thursday (Aug. 29) for the launch of its eighth suborbital crewed mission, a flight called NS-26.

Private Spaceflight
a black and white spacex rocket test-fires its first-stage engines on the launch pad beneath a dark-blue late-evening or early-morning sky

SpaceX fires up Falcon 9 rocket ahead of Polaris Dawn astronaut launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX test-fired the first stage of Polaris Dawn's Falcon 9 rocket over the weekend, keeping the historic astronaut mission on track for an Aug. 27 launch.

Missions
illustration of an astronaut in a white spacesuit emerging from a white capsule in orbit

How SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn private spacewalk will work

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, which is scheduled to launch on Aug. 27, will feature the first-ever private spacewalk. Here's what to expect.

Human Spaceflight
two women astronauts in spacesuits with visors up, smiling

SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission will set altitude record for female astronauts

By Elizabeth Howell published

Two women astronauts on Polaris Dawn are set to break an altitude record set in 1990. Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon will fly higher than any female astronaut before them.

Human Spaceflight
a white cone-shaped capsule on a truck bed in front of a large hangar with a logo reading "spacex" on it

SpaceX delays launch of Polaris Dawn private spacewalk mission to Aug. 27

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission will wait one more day for launch as the company completes preflight checkouts of the spacecraft.

Private Spaceflight
four people in white spacesuits sitting inside a dragon spacecraft

How SpaceX modified a Dragon crew capsule for Polaris Dawn's historic private spacewalk

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX made several design changes to its Crew Dragon capsule to accommodate the first private spacewalk on the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission. Here are the key ones.

Human Spaceflight
Four people in dark jumpsuits lean on a jet.

Billionaire's Polaris Dawn crew arrives at SpaceX launch site for 1st-ever private spacewalk flight (photos, video)

By Josh Dinner published

The crew of SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as their historic mission inches closer to launch.

Private Spaceflight
four smiling people in black t-shirts stand in front of a rocket

SpaceX to launch 4 people on historic Fram2 mission over Earth's poles in late 2024

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX plans to make more spaceflight history late this year, by launching the first crewed mission to explore Earth's polar regions.

Missions
a metallic dark-purple space plane sits inside a hangar

Get a sneak peek at Virgin Galactic's new Delta class space plane (video)

By Andrew Jones published

Virgin Galactic posted a video on Wednesday (Aug. 7) showcasing an animation of its new Delta class space plane, which is expected to enter service in 2026.

Private Spaceflight
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