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.

Latest Updates

Liftoff of Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on its twelfth suborbital mission to space and back from the company's West Texas launch site on Dec. 11, 2019. On board for this flight was the first batch of thousands of Club for the Future postcards.

Blue Origin will launch its upgraded New Shepard space capsule today. Here's how to watch live.

By Elizabeth Howell

"Mannequin Skywalker" will fly to space Thursday (Jan. 14) as part of a big test for Blue Origin's budding human spaceflight program — and you can watch the event live.

Space.com's Chelsea Gohd stands in front of "G-Force One," preparing for a weightless "zero gravity" flight aboard the customized Boeing 727 aircraft.

I flew weightlessly on a Zero-G plane and it was nothing like I expected

By Chelsea Gohd

This October, I left the comfortable embrace of Earth's gravity, taking to the skies aboard a "zero-gravity flight."

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity is seen after landing at Spaceport America, New Mexico following a launch abort during a flight test on Dec . 12, 2020.

Virgin Galactic traces SpaceShipTwo launch abort to bad computer connection

By Mike Wall

A bad computer connection foiled Virgin Galactic's attempt to reach space over the weekend.

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane lifts off from Spaceport America in New Mexico beneath the wings of its carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, on Dec. 12, 2020.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo suffers apparent abort in 1st launch from Spaceport America

By Mike Wall

Virgin Galactic's first SpaceShipTwo test launch from its Spaceport America home experienced an apparent launch abort shortly after engine ignition Saturday (Dec. 12).

Virgin Galactic's Gateway to Space terminal for space tourists flights at Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

Report finds that former Spaceport America director violated state laws (report)

By Chelsea Gohd

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceliner captured this view of Earth during the vehicle's first trip to space, on Dec. 13, 2018.

Virgin Galactic delays SpaceShipTwo test launch due to COVID restrictions

By Mike Wall

The recent surge of COVID-19 infections has impelled Virgin Galactic to reschedule the third crewed test flight of its VSS Unity space plane, which had been targeted for Nov. 19-23.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk celebrates the successful launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on May 30, 2020.

The Elysium effect: The coming backlash to the billionaire 'NewSpace' revolution

By Rick Tumlinson

As entrepreneurs spend billions on space, there is a backlash building that holds their projects as icons of extravagance, even as they may help save the Earth. This is the "Elysium effect."

NASA's 2017 Class of Astronauts participate in graduation ceremonies at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 10, 2020. From left are, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, CSA astronaut Jennifer Sidey-Gibbon, NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Kayla Barron, Jasmin Moghbeli, Loral O'Hara, Zena Cardman, Raja Chari, Matthew Dominick, Bob Hines and Warren Hoburg. This is the first class to graduate under the Artemis program, and the 13 astronauts are now eligible for assignments to the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the Moon, and ultimately, missions to Mars.

Astronaut requirements changing rapidly with private spaceflyers, long-duration missions

By Elizabeth Howell

Being an astronaut of the 2020s will be completely different than it was for any astronaut that came before, a panel of spaceflyers told the International Astronautical Congress on Oct. 14.

Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle made its 13th flight on Oct. 13, 2020.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket aces record 7th launch, landing in test flight

By Hanneke Weitering

Blue Origin successfully launched its New Shepard rocket for space tourism on an uncrewed test flight over West Texas on Tuesday (Oct. 13).

Blue Origin's New Shepard space capsule and rocket on the pad at the company's West Texas Launch Site in January 2019. The same rocket will launch the NS-13 mission in September 2020.

Blue Origin scrubs New Shepard rocket launch due to power glitch

By Hanneke Weitering

Blue Origin has delayed the planned launch of its New Shepard rocket from West Texas today (Sept. 24), citing a power glitch.

Artist's illustration of Space Perspective's balloon-borne Spaceship Neptune high above Earth.

Space Perspective partners with Exclusive Resorts for balloon rides to the stratosphere

By Mike Wall

The members-only vacation club Exclusive Resorts will become the first privately chartered travel group to fly aboard Space Perspective's balloon-borne capsule.

The International Space Station, as seen from the space shuttle Atlantis in July 2011, on the final flight of the shuttle program.

'Space Hero:' Planned reality TV show wants to launch winner to International Space Station

By Mike Wall

A production company is planning to film a reality TV show that features a 10-day stay aboard the International Space Station as its grand prize.

Passengers float in microgravity aboard Zero-G's Aug. 16, 2020 flight.

Weightless wonder: Why people are choosing to fly with Zero-G in a pandemic

By Chelsea Gohd

In the middle of a pandemic, people are finding their personal safe haven in the sky, floating in "zero gravity."

Artist Jeff Hein, working in his studio, tests the paints and creative process to apply a mural to the exterior panel on a Blue Origin New Shepard spacecraft.

Space art-ifact: Uplift Aerospace offers to paint murals on Blue Origin spacecraft

By Robert Z. Pearlman

A commercial spacecraft that has been designed to launch people on brief trips into space has inspired a new creative use — as a canvas for artwork.

SpaceX's Dragon: First Private Spacecraft to Reach the Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell

The Dragon spacecraft first reached the International Space Station in 2012 and Crew Dragon became the first private, crewed spacecraft to reach the ISS in 2020.

Space tourists will face big risks, as private companies gear up for paid suborbital flights

By Sara M. Langston

While some hazards of spaceflight and the space environment — like G-forces, radiation, vibration and microgravity — are well documented, many risks remain unknown.

You can book a weightless flight with Zero Gravity again after hiatus due to coronavirus

By Chelsea Gohd

The company is relaunching with a new health and safety plan.

Best space and sci-fi books for 2020

By Space.com Staff

Space.com's editors present a reading list for space and sci-fi lovers, as well as children who are interested in astronomy and spaceflight.

William Shatner hosts a virtual panel on NASA's Artemis program at San Diego Comic-Con, on July 25, 2020. Panelists included NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Kjell Lindgren as well as space technology expert LaNetra Tate, and spacesuit engineer Lindsay Aitchison.

William Shatner of 'Star Trek' fame hints at a private trip to space

By Elizabeth Howell

The actor who played astronaut Captain Kirk on "Star Trek" hinted during an online San Diego Comic-Con panel that he may be interested in going to space.

Virgin Galactic will unveil the passenger cabin of its SpaceShipTwo space plane, seen here at center during a June 25 test flight, in a livestream on July 28.

Virgin Galactic to debut passenger cabin design for SpaceShipTwo today. Here's how to watch live.

By Tariq Malik

Virgin Galactic lifts the veil on SpaceShipTwo's passenger cabin today (July 28) and you can watch it live online. Here's how.

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