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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An artist's rendering of a space telescope built with a liquid lens.

A private Ax-1 astronaut will test making a liquid telescope mirror in space

By Stefanie Waldek published

Ax-1's Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe will perform the Fluidic Telescope Experiment (FLUTE), investigating the use of liquids to construct telescope lenses in microgravity.

The four members of the Axiom-1 (Ax-1) private crew join the seven members of the International Space Station's Expedition 67 crew for a brief welcome ceremony on Saturday, April 9, 2022. From left to right: Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Korsakov and Denis Matveev, NASA astronauts Raja Chari (upside down) and Kayla Barron, Ax-1 mission specialists Mark Pathy of Canada and Eytan Stibbe of Israel, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor, European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer (upside down), Ax-1 commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn.

Ax-1, the first private crew to space station, welcomed aboard with astronaut pins

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The three first-time fliers on the first commercial crew to visit the International Space Station arrived on board the orbiting outpost where they were pinned as the world's newest astronauts.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying the Ax-1 private astronaut crew for Axiom Space docks at the International Space Station on April 9, 2022.

SpaceX Dragon arrives at space station with all-private Ax-1 astronaut crew

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the four Ax-1 astronauts docked with the International Space Station at 8:29 a.m. EDT (1229 GMT) today (April 9).

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying the Ax-1 crew closes in on the International Space Station during an orbital sunrise during docking operations on April 9, 2022.

How to watch SpaceX launch the private Ax-1 space station mission online

By Elizabeth Howell published

Four people are scheduled to go to space during Axiom Space's debut mission, and you can watch many of the events live.

Ax-1 crewmembers receive the signal they can lift the visors on their helmets shortly after their launch toward the International Space Station on April 8, 2022.

Private Ax-1 astronauts on SpaceX capsule to mint NFT artwork in space

By Mike Wall last updated

The astronauts of the first-ever fully private crewed mission to the International Space Station will commemorate their groundbreaking flight with some digital artwork.

The Axiom-1 crew's "zero-g indicator," the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation dog mascot "Caramel," began floating about their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft when the mission entered Earth orbit on Friday, April 8, 2022.

Hospital mascot, not Disney rabbit, floats on Ax-1 mission as zero-g indicator

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A longed-eared toy dog was mistaken for a famous Disney rabbit when it was revealed as the "zero-g indicator" on the first private mission to the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the crewed Ax-1 mission toward the International Space Station on April 8, 2022.

A 'beautiful, beautiful launch:' Teams celebrate private Ax-1 mission's landmark liftoff

By Chelsea Gohd published

Four private astronauts left Earth this morning (April 8), riding a SpaceX capsule toward the International Space Station on a history-making liftoff that wowed observers.

Axiom Space's private Ax-1 crew will ride a SpaceX Dragon capsule to the International Space Station on April 8, 2022. They are (from left): pilot Larry Connor; Mark Pathy, mission specialist; Michael López-Alegría , commander; and Eytan Stibbe, mission specialist.

The private Ax-1 astronaut mission heralds an exciting new era in spaceflight (op-ed)

By Ran Livne published

Private space stations are coming.

The Ax-1 crew takes part in a launch dress rehearsal, from left: Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, Michael Lopez-Alegria and Eytan Stibbe.

Axiom-1 mission all-private crew to make and carry history on space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated

Artifacts from the first heavier-than-air powered flying machine, the first spacecraft to carry humans to land on the moon and the first Israeli to fly in space are headed into orbit with Ax-1.

NASA's Space Launch System lunar rocket and SpaceX Falcon 9 readying for their historic missions at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX launching private Ax-1 astronaut mission today: Watch it live

By Chelsea Gohd last updated

SpaceX will launch a former NASA astronaut and three paying customers on a journey to the International Space Station. That mission, called Ax-1, lifts off today (April 8)!

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly the Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station is seen on its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 6, 2022 (at left). At right is NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission, which is on a pad for testing.

Private Ax-1 astronauts ready to launch on SpaceX rocket tomorrow

By Chelsea Gohd published

The first all-private crewed mission to the International Space Station is ready to fly, mission leaders announced today (April 7).

NASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen at right atop a mobile launcher on April 6 at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B as the Artemis 1 launch team prepares for the next attempt of the wet dress rehearsal test. At left, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at KSC's Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the planned April 8 launch of the Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station.

See NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket, SpaceX's Ax-1 astronaut mission on the launch pad (photos)

By Mike Wall published

The two rockets — NASA's SLS and SpaceX's Falcon 9 — can be seen together in photos that NASA posted to one of its Flickr accounts today (April 6).

The crew consisting of pilot Larry Connor of the United States, commander Michael López-Alegría of Spain and the United States, and mission specialists Mark Pathy and Eytan Stibbe from Canada and Israel.

Ax-1: Why the private mission to the International Space Station is a gamechanger

By Ian Whittaker published

Unlike the short "joyrides" of Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, this mission will be reaching the roughly 400km altitude needed to dock with the ISS.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket that will fly the all-private Ax-1 astronaut mission to the International Space Station roll out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 5, 2022.

SpaceX rolls Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon capsule out to pad for Ax-1 astronaut launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

On Tuesday (April 5), SpaceX rolled the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly the Ax-1 mission out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Artist’s depiction of a future TESSERAE self-assembling space station in orbit around Mars.

SpaceX private Ax-1 mission's science includes self-assembling robots and light-powered air filters

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Axiom Space's first mission plans a heavy share of science during eight days on the International Space Station.

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 will launch these 4 private astronauts on Axiom Space's Ax-1 space station mission this week

By Elizabeth Howell published

The first all-private mission to the International Space Station by Axiom Space will launch no earlier than April 6.

A novel Brain.Space headset will map how the brain changes during spaceflight during the Ax-1 private mission to the International Space Station by Axiom Space.

This Israeli startup's sci-fi 'headset' will map brain changes in space on private Ax-1 mission

By Elizabeth Howell published

A brain 'headset' aims to provide a high-resolution view of neural changes that happen in the brain while space, and it will fly aboard Axiom Space's first crewed launch, Ax-1.

Businessman and professor Jim Kitchen, right, pulls out one of his passports during Blue Origin's NS-20 suborbital spaceflight on March 31, 2022. Kitchen brought 10 passports with him on the trip, as well as a Ukrainian flag and an American flag.

Blue Origin space tourist carries Ukrainian flag to final frontier

By Mike Wall last updated

Blue Origin passenger Jim Kitchen, a professor and entrepreneur, carried a symbol of support and solidarity for Ukraine with him to space on Thursday (March 31).

Liftoff for Blue Origin's NS-20 mission on March 31, 2022.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches 6 people to space in fourth crewed flight

By Mike Wall published

A New Shepard rocket-capsule combo lifted off from Blue Origin's Launch Site One in West Texas on Thursday morning (March 31), carrying six people to suborbital space.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifts off from the company's West Texas launch site, carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen and 82-year-old Wally Funk, on July 20, 2021.

Watch Blue Origin's fourth crewed flight, the NS-20 space tourist launch, today

By Mike Wall last updated

Jeff Bezos' spaceflight company Blue Origin will launch six people to the final frontier Thursday morning (March 31), and you can watch the action live.