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Space Tourism

Learn the latest news about space tourism and space tourist trips into outer space. Space.com looks at the growing business of space tourism. 

Related Topics: SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Incredible Space Tech, International Space Station, Interstellar Travel 

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NS-19 launch

In photos: Michael Strahan's launch into space on Blue Origin's New Shepard

By Elizabeth Howell published

See the 'Good Morning America' host and former football star touch down after a spaceflight.

The International Space Station as seen by astronauts aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on Nov. 8, 2021.

Axiom's 1st private crew launch to space station delayed to March

By Elizabeth Howell published

Spacecraft prep and orbital traffic pushed the first all-private space station mission one month later.

Grand ideas of extraterrestrial colonization are hardly new. In the 1940s, the nascent Space Age set in motion calls for a new wave of colonization directed outwards into space.

The solar system belongs to us all, not just Jeff Bezos

By Alan Marshall published

Like colonialism of old, Bezos’s space colonization plans heavily depend on resource extraction and unfair and abusive labor practices.

Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin holds the Olympic torch as he enters the International Space Station.

Let the space games begin! Ideas for off-Earth sports move to center court

By Leonard David published

An alliance of experts in space, sports and the entertainment industry are designing and developing original games exclusively for low or microgravity playing fields.

The Inspiration4 crew poses for a selfie in the cupola of their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Inspiration4: The first all-civilian spaceflight on SpaceX Dragon

By Vicky Stein, Scott Dutfield published

REFERENCE Inspiration4 was the world's first orbital spaceflight unsupervised by professional astronauts, using commercial equipment to launch civilian space enthusiasts into orbit.

Top 10 spaceflight stories of 2021

By Amy Thompson published

From landing on Mars to launching private citizens into space, and everything in between, this year has seen many historic milestones and giant leaps.

Pioneering Inspiration4 mission crew member Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and pediatric cancer survivor, circuited Earth for nearly three days in September 2021.

Equal access to space: New study investigates how to get more 'parastronauts' aloft

By Leonard David published

A new study sponsored by NASA investigates the feasibility of sending people with disabilities safely into space and returning them back to Earth.

Axiom Space's first private crewed mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch on Feb. 28, 2022. From left to right: pilot Larry Connor, mission commander and retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, mission specialist Mark Pathy and mission specialist Eytan Stibbe.

NASA clears Axiom crew for 1st private mission to International Space Station

By Samantha Mathewson published

The astronauts launching with the first private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year have cleared all their medical evaluations.

SpaceX test fires a Starship rocket at its Starbase test site near Boca Chica Village in South Texas in 2021.

SpaceX in 2021: Elon Musk's space company set records for reusability and more

By Elizabeth Howell published

From Starship to Starlink to civilian flights, the California company is growing a 'monopoly' in space.

The Inspiration4 crew poses for a selfie in the Crew Dragon cupola.

Space tourism took a giant leap in 2021: Here's 10 milestones from the year

By Elizabeth Howell published

From suborbital space to high Earth orbit, space tourism is just getting started.

Artist's illustration of the space station that Houston-based company Axiom Space plans to build in Earth orbit.

Axiom Space developing in-house spacesuits to prepare for future stations

By Rahul Rao published

Even as commercial spaceflight company Axiom Space prepares to launch the first fully private crew to the space station early next year, its engineers are also developing in-house spacesuits.

A New Shepard rocket and capsule lift off from Blue Origin's launch site in West Texas.

Winner of Blue Origin's $28 million auction to fly with 5 'space warriors' next year

By Mike Wall published

Justin Sun, the founder and CEO of the blockchain platform Tron, announced today (Dec. 22) that he's the person who paid $28 million for a seat aboard Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa (left) with cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin aboard the International Space Station.

New space tourist videos show Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa's life in orbit

By Elizabeth Howell published

The space tourist has beamed home videos showing his many orbital adventures.

Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa enters the International Space Station to begin a 12-day space tourist trip following a Soyuz launch and docking on Dec. 8, 2021.

Japanese billionaire space tourist Yusaku Maezawa and two crewmates return to Earth tonight. Watch it live.

By Elizabeth Howell published

The trio will wrap up their 12-day orbital trip on Sunday (Dec. 19).

With her hair floating in the weightless environment of space, Laura Shepard Churchley looks out one of the large windows aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard capsule during the NS-19 suborbital flight on Dec. 11, 2021.

Post-flight interview: Astronaut's daughter reflects on her own launch on Blue Origin

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Laura Shepard Churchley is not sure if she is an astronaut. The daughter of America's first astronaut to fly into space, Churchley followed in her father's trajectory by lifting off with Blue Origin.

The International Space Station as seen by astronauts aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on Nov. 8, 2021.

NASA greenlights Axiom Space's 2nd private mission to International Space Station

By Mike Wall published

The agency will work with Axiom Space to find a window for the Houston-based company's second ISS mission, which is targeted to lift off between fall 2022 and spring 2023.

Laura Shepard Churchley's New Shepard 19 launch on Dec. 11, 2021 (at right) and Mercury-Redstone 3 lifting off with her father, Alan Shepard, on May 5, 1961, 60 years ago.

Shepard vs New Shepard: How astronaut daughter's Blue Origin launch stacks up

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Laura Shepard Churchley is now the 372nd American to fly into space. Her dad was the first. Churchley followed in her father's flight trajectory by flying on board Blue Origin's New Shepard.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa (left) with cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa delivers first Uber Eats in space

By Elizabeth Howell published

Unlike Earth-based deliveries, this orbital one was full of canned goods.

Blue Origin New Shepard NS-19 passenger Cameron Bess holds up a toy football while floating in weightlessness during their suborbital spaceflight on Dec. 11, 2021.

Pansexual astronaut Cameron Bess on launching with Blue Origin and why diversity matters in space

By Elizabeth Howell published

Pansexual Twitch streamer Cameron Bess fulfilled a lifelong dream to go to space on Saturday (Dec. 11) on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.

Blue Origin's New Shepard 19 (NS-19) crew, from left to right: Dylan Taylor, Lane Bess, Cameron Bess, Laura Shepard Churchley, Michael Strahan and Evan Dick.

Michael Strahan's Blue Origin Launch on New Shepard: Mission updates and recap

By Tariq Malik, Elizabeth Howell published