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 

Latest Updates

Blue Origin's suborbital New Shepard vehicle fires up to launch William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries and Audrey Powers to the final frontier on Oct. 13, 2021.

Blue Origin delays next space tourist launch from May 20 due to vehicle issue

By Mike Wall last updated

Blue Origin is no longer targeting Friday (May 20) for the launch of its next space tourist mission after discovering an issue with its New Shepard vehicle. A new launch date has not been announced.

The six people flying on Blue Origin's NS-21 mission. Top row, left to right: Evan Dick, Katya Echazarreta and Hamish Harding. Bottom row, left to right: Victor Correa Hespanha, Jaison Robinson and Victor Vescovo.

Meet the crew of Blue Origin's NS-21 space tourism launch

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

The six crewmembers include one person who has flown to space with Blue Origin before.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket launches a crew of six on Dec. 11, 2021.

Blue Origin's NS-21 space tourism launch: When to watch and what to know

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

The fifth crewed flight of Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle is scheduled to lift off Saturday (June 4) at 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).

The NS-21 group of space tourists flying aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft include six individuals. Top row, left to right: Evan Dick, Katya Echazarreta and Hamish Harding. Bottom row, left to right: Victor Correa Hespanha, Jaison Robinson and Victor Vescovo.

Blue Origin announces crew for next suborbital space tourism launch

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

The passengers on Blue Origin's fifth crewed flight, known as NS-21, include the first Mexican-born woman to visit space.

A rendering of World View space capsule ascending into Earth's stratosphere.

Start-up World View sells 1,000 tickets for balloon trips near edge of space

By Tereza Pultarova last updated

Space balloon start-up World View has signed up 1,000 customers for trips near the edge of space beginning in 2024.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his Unity 22 launch on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic pushes 1st planned commercial passenger flight to 2023

By Elizabeth Howell published

Aspiring space tourists will need to wait a little longer before soaring into suborbital space with Virgin Galactic.

SpaceX's Starship on the launch pad at Starbase on March 18, 2022.

SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company

By Elizabeth Howell published

Reference SpaceX is the maker of Starship and a private space company known for its International Space Station missions.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 143 small satellites into orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Jan. 24, 2021 to mark the Transporter-1 rideshare mission.

Falcon 9: SpaceX's workhorse rocket

By Elizabeth Howell published

Reference The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is the vehicle that launches satellites, Dragon cargo spacecraft and Crew Dragon spacecraft to orbit.

The Ax-1 SpaceX Dragon capsule on the deck of the recovery ship Megan shortly after splashdown on April 25, 2022.

Axiom Space, SpaceX change the landscape of private spaceflight with Ax-1 mission

By Chelsea Gohd published

Four private astronauts made history today (April 25), splashing safely down on Earth after completing the first fully private crewed mission aboard the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the four crewmembers of the private Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station bobs in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida just after splashing down on April 25, 2022.

Private Ax-1 astronauts return to Earth, ending historic SpaceX mission

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the four crewmembers of the Ax-1 mission splashed down off the coast of Florida today (April 25), bringing the groundbreaking flight to a close.

The Axiom-1 space mission is returning from the International Space Station after a 15-day stay.

Watch SpaceX's private Ax-1 astronaut crew return to Earth today live online

By Tereza Pultarova published

The first American privately funded mission to the International Space Station ends today with an anticipated splash down off the coast of Florida at about 1:06 p.m. EDT (1706 GMT).

The crew of Axiom Space's Ax-1 mission pose for a photo inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft while training. They are: (from left) Mark Pathy; Larry Connor; Michael López-Alegría; and Eytan Stibbe.

SpaceX Ax-1 private mission to space station: Live updates

By Space.com Staff last updated

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying the private Ax-1 astronauts fires its thrusters to depart the International Space Station after a successful undocking on April 24, 2022.

SpaceX Dragon with private Ax-1 astronaut crew departs International Space Station

By Mike Wall last updated

The pioneering Ax-1 mission has left the International Space Station and is headed back to Earth.

​​The SpaceX Dragon capsule Endeavour is pictured docked to the International Space Station. Endeavour carried the four members of Axiom Space's Ax-1 mission to the orbiting lab. Ax-1 is scheduled to depart on April 23, 2022 and splash down a day later.

Watch SpaceX's private Ax-1 astronaut mission leave the space station tonight

By Mike Wall last updated

The first-ever all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is about to head for home, and you can watch the departure live.

The four private astronauts of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station wave to students at Space Center Houston during a video call on April 13, 2022. They are (from left): Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor; commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría; Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy; and Israeli entrepeneur Eytan Stibbe.

SpaceX, NASA delay undocking of private Ax-1 astronaut crew at space station

By Tariq Malik published

NASA and SpaceX delayed the undocking of private Ax-1 astronauts from the International Space Station by another day due to bad weather.

The four private astronauts of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station wave to students at Space Center Houston during a video call on April 13, 2022. They are (from left): Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor; commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría; Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy; and Israeli entrepeneur Eytan Stibbe.

Private Ax-1 mission to stay at ISS until Saturday, pushing next SpaceX astronaut launch to April 26

By Mike Wall published

The Ax-1 astronaut mission will depart the space station on Saturday night, if all goes according to plan. The new date pushes the launch of SpaceX's Crew-4 mission to April 26 at the earliest.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour with the Axiom-1 crew docks to the International Space Station on Saturday, April 9, 2022.

See amazing photos of SpaceX's Ax-1 private astronaut launch and mission

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Check out these amazing photos of Axiom Space's historic Ax-1 mission, the first all-private mission to the International Space Station.

The four private astronauts of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station wave to students at Space Center Houston during a video call on April 13, 2022. They are (from left): Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor; commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría; Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy; and Israeli entrepeneur Eytan Stibbe.

Bad weather nixes Ax-1 mission's planned Tuesday departure from ISS

By Mike Wall last updated

Ax-1, the first fully private crewed mission to the International Space Station, won't leave the orbiting lab on Tuesday night (April 19) after all.

The four private astronauts of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station wave to students at Space Center Houston during a video call on April 13, 2022. They are (from left): Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor; commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría; Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy; and Israeli entrepeneur Eytan Stibbe.

Ax-1's first all-private crew to space station would love a trip to the moon. 'The sights here are amazing.'

By Elizabeth Howell published

The private Ax-1 astronauts on the International Space Station told students they'd love to go to the moon after their historic trip

Ax-1 private astronaut Eytan Stibbe will celebrate Passover aboard the ISS in 2022 during his mission as the second Israeli to ever fly to space.

Private Ax-1 astronaut Eytan Stibbe of Israel to celebrate Passover in space

By Chelsea Gohd last updated

Eytan Stibbe, a private astronaut and the second Israeli to ever reach space, prepares to celebrate Passover in orbit.