Space Tourism

The era of Space Tourism began om April 28, 2001 when Denis Tito was launched into space in a Russian Soyuz capsule. Tito, a multi-millionaire reputed to have paid $20 million for the trip, proved that traveling beyond Earth's gravity was not just the province of a select few, but that anyone with drive, determination - and at that point in history, a lot of money - could become an astronaut.

Since then, other tourists have journeyed to the International Space Station. But they remain a select few with huge disposable incomes to fund their dream of spaceflight.

All that began to change on June 21st, 2004. For some years before that, the X-Prize Foundation had challenged aeronautical engineers and companies to desing a resuable craft that could ferry paying passengers to space. SpaceShip One took the prize that June day in 2004 and the possibilies for ordinary Joes to get into space became a lot more realistic.

Other companies had competed but, perhaps suprisingly, none ever launched their own craft into space following SpaceShip One's success. At the time, everybody seemed gung-ho about their variations on reusable craft. Either they were over enthusiastic, overestimated their own capabilities or, beacuse the Prize had been won, decided to continue development out of the spotlight or drop our entirely.

But things have not been stagnant in the three years since the X-Prize was won. Richard Branson went into business with the makers of SpaceShip One (Burt Rutan and co.) in the hopes of launching a venture that would be accessible to a huge number of people interested in taking a trip to space.

No long after, Virgin Galactic was announced to the world, along with the development of SpaceShip Two, which would carry six people to the edgo of space in a sub-orbital flight. The going rate for a seat is $100, 000 and, while not cheap, is within the means of a lareg number of people. SpaceShip Two is scheduled to launch in 2009. And then the Space Tourism revolution really will begin.

Space Tourism

Virgin Gallactic Defends Space Tourism's Environmental Benefits - Triple Pundit 19 Mar 2010 at 12:06pm  Triple Pundit Virgin Gallactic Defends Space Tourism's Environmental Benefits Triple Pundit Environmental groups have heatedly lashed out at Virgin Galactic's plans for space tourism. ... Read more... Russia to resume space tourist programme in 2-3 years - Sify 19 Mar 2010 at 5:09am  Central Florida News 13 Russia to resume space tourist programme in 2-3 years Sify 'Our capabilities to produce and launch spacecraft have doubled (since 2009), so the possibility (of space tourist flights) could arise again after ... Russia plans to resume space tourismUPI.com Help wanted: Space flight experience requiredMontreal Gazette all 53 news articles » Read more... Russia could build extra Soyuz capsule for space tours 18 Mar 2010 at 8:02pm  MISSION CONTROL, (RIA Novosti) - An additional Soyuz capsule could be built especially for commercial space tourists, the head of Russia's Energia space corporation said on Thursday. "Construction of an additional Soyuz spaceship could start in the middle of the year," Vitaly Lopota said. Energia currently manufactures four single-use three-man Soyuz capsules a year, but when the number is raised to five, it could resume space tours that it has put on hold for now. Earlier in the year R [...] Read more... FAA, NASA Vie for Authority Over Commercial Space Safety - Wall Street Journal 18 Mar 2010 at 7:44pm  Financial Times FAA, NASA Vie for Authority Over Commercial Space Safety Wall Street Journal Nelson, a primary backer of the original legislation giving the FAA authority over space tourism, asked if the FAA has "any business getting into" the ... Panel hears more about commercial rocketsAirForceTimes.com The pull of gravityFinancial Times Space agenda getting better Tally treatment this yearOrlando Sentinel (blog) all 62 news articles » Read more... Russia to resume space tourism in 2012 - RT 18 Mar 2010 at 9:24am  CBC.ca Russia to resume space tourism in 2012 RT Russia will increase the number of Soyuz spaceship launches and resume space tourism in 2012, an aerospace industry source told Interfax news agency on ... Soyuz Crew Readies For Next ISS MissionRedOrbit US-Russian duo returns to Earth from space stationReuters Russia could build extra Soyuz capsule for space toursRIA Novosti all 277 news articles » Read more... Hotelier starts recruiting astronauts - Hotelier Middle East 17 Mar 2010 at 11:03pm  Telegraph.co.uk Hotelier starts recruiting astronauts Hotelier Middle East By Hotelier Middle East Staff A Las Vegas hotelier is recruiting astronauts in a bid to drive forward the company's plans for space tourism domination. ... Professional Astronauts Wanted for Space Travel CompanyTonic Astronauts wanted, experience essentialScientific American Jobs spaces open for astronautsBusiness Report all 44 news articles » Read more... Planck spies massive dust clouds Space tourism entrepreneurs want to bring you to the stars - Metro Canada - O... 16 Mar 2010 at 9:03pm  Space tourism entrepreneurs want to bring you to the stars Metro Canada - Ottawa In 1968 the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote the classic 2001 and predicted mankind would be happily living in space. For a visionary rarely ... and more » Read more... New Mexico spaceport clears legislative hurdle - BusinessWeek 15 Mar 2010 at 10:06am  New Mexico spaceport clears legislative hurdle BusinessWeek New Mexico already holds a major advantage in commercial space development, Landeene said, because Sir Richard Branson's space tourism venture, ... and more » Read more... Space tourism industry gets legal insurance with informed consent ruling - Ge... 11 Mar 2010 at 10:19am  New York Times (blog) Space tourism industry gets legal insurance with informed consent ruling Geek.com Space tourism can't really go anywhere until this is settled? and it looks like it has been. Operators like Virgin Galactic have won a legal reprieve ... New Law Allows Space Tourism Companies to Develop It was signed into effect in ...Softpedia Virgin Galactic Lands Legal Protection Against Space TouristsGearlog (blog) For Sh15m, you can blast off to space with Virgin GalacticBusiness Daily Africa all 7 news articles » Read more...