Space tourism remains costly and exclusive for wealthy

As space tourism grows, it remains mostly for the wealthy. Companies are working to make space travel more accessible, but prices are still high. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore recently returned from a nine-month mission on the International Space Station. Their journey has inspired many to dream about experiencing space travel. In May 2024, Gopi Thotakura became the first citizen of India to travel as a space tourist. His flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft is a significant step for India's space efforts and for making space travel more available to the public. Several companies are now leading the charge in space tourism. Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson, offers suborbital flights. Passengers can float in zero gravity and view Earth from about 80 km high. The entire trip lasts about 90 minutes and costs around $600,000. SpaceX, run by Elon Musk, takes a different approach by sending civilians on orbital missions. In September 2021, they launched the first all-civilian crew into orbit. This mission cost $220 million, covered by billionaire Jared Isaacman. Blue Origin is another key player. Their New Shepard rocket takes customers 100 km above Earth for a few minutes of weightlessness and stunning views. Tickets for this experience range from $250,000 to $300,000. Lastly, Axiom Space is involved in building a space station and has offered flights to the International Space Station. However, this luxury journey comes with a price of about $55 million per person. Despite the high costs, the advancements in space tourism signal a new era for adventure seekers.