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

World Travel Awards names the greatest travel triumphs of the Noughties - PRL... 9 Feb 2010 at 2:37am  World Travel Awards names the greatest travel triumphs of the Noughties PRLog.Org (press release) PR Log (Press Release) ? Feb 09, 2010 ? The dawn of space tourism, the launch of Tripadvisor, online check-in, and jetting off to Dubai for sun and shopping ... Read more... UK: Second Biggest Buyer of Tickets for Space Tourism Holidays - GoTimeshare.org 9 Feb 2010 at 1:56am  UK: Second Biggest Buyer of Tickets for Space Tourism Holidays GoTimeshare.org A trip into space will be a dream for some and now they may be able to enjoy this life-changing experience. Virgin Galactic recently unveiled the world's ... Read more... Space rides to cost more - Straits Times 9 Feb 2010 at 12:44am  Times Online Space rides to cost more Straits Times But with space now limited aboard the Soyuz rocket, Russia looks set to curb its lucrative space tourism service, for which it had charged cosmos-crazed ... Private firms see chance to soar in grounded NasaNational Daily Briefing: Mon.Mother Nature Network (blog) Space agency's future mission more visionaryYuma Sun all 3,104 news articles » Read more... Editorial: Worthy enterprise | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2010 - Philadelp... 9 Feb 2010 at 12:07am  Inventorspot Editorial: Worthy enterprise | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/09/2010 Philadelphia Inquirer In addition to Boeing and Lockheed-Martin, some new companies are ready to take advantage of the new model, including Blue Origin, a space tourism company ... That's one small step backwards for NASA, one giant leap for private industryetravelblackboard.us Space invadersChicago Tribune all 90 news articles » Read more... No kidding, peacocks get the right of way - North Island Midweek 8 Feb 2010 at 4:33pm  No kidding, peacocks get the right of way North Island Midweek ... alien life but refuses to publicize that knowledge. q The Russian Space Agency has a full-fledged space tourism program -- and a popular one, at that. ... Read more... Richard Branson Reveals New Underwater Plane for that Voyage to the Bottom of... 8 Feb 2010 at 12:40pm  TravelVideo.tv (press release) Richard Branson Reveals New Underwater Plane for that Voyage to the Bottom of ... TravelVideo.tv (press release) Branson is also infamous for his adventures ?out of this world? as he has been known to dabble in space tourism. Now the brand goes from out of orbit to the ... and more » Read more... TOURISM CONTINUES ITS FOCUS ON A shuttle launch - Florida Today 6 Feb 2010 at 10:15pm  TOURISM CONTINUES ITS FOCUS ON A shuttle launch Florida Today Beyond Brevard's space tourism, the campaign highlights the county's beaches, ecotourism, cruise ships and other offerings. Even before the publicity push, ... and more » Read more... Titusville feels space pinch - Florida Today 6 Feb 2010 at 10:14pm  Titusville feels space pinch Florida Today Many people said they believe the city needs to encourage the development of space tourism and other high-tech industry jobs. "If we develop the private ... and more » Read more... Will NASA's Loss Be Space Tourism's Gain? - Jaunted 4 Feb 2010 at 9:48am  The Money Times Will NASA's Loss Be Space Tourism's Gain? Jaunted ... the US would get to maintain its presence in space even while it injected badly-needed funds into the country's growing space tourism industry. ... Moon tourism by 2020 under new Obama measuresBreaking Travel News Boosters flare in space debatemsnbc.com Commercial space travel possible by 2014The Money Times Techworld.com all 139 news articles » Read more... NASA to explore private space flight - CBC.ca 1 Feb 2010 at 6:56am  Reuters NASA to explore private space flight CBC.ca ... whose SpaceShipTwo was unveiled in Mojave, Calif., in December by billionaire Richard Branson, in an expensive gamble on space tourism. ... NASA's Outsourcing May Benefit Large ContractorsWall Street Journal Future Space Projects That Could Come to PassSoftpedia No Moon Missions, That's a ReliefUniverse Today PoliGazette (blog) -National -Orlando Sentinel (blog) all 2,109 news articles » Read more...