Introduction:
If you've ever wanted to go to orbit, or space for that matter, you may have wondered whether or not this is possible as a tourist. In short: yes - but only if you're willing to pay out of your own pocket and put up with some basic restrictions on your space travel plans.
The launch of the Virgin Galactic spaceship in 2010 was a big moment for the whole world. The company is aiming at the millions of US dollars that people used to spend on trips to the International Space Station. Does it mean that you are able to buy your ticket and fly into space after all?
Can you go to space as a tourist?
Yes, you can go to space as a tourist.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been sending people into space since the late 1950s. The agency currently has three programs that send astronauts and cosmonauts into orbit: the Space Shuttle program, which sends people up on board the Russian Soyuz spacecraft; the International Space Station (ISS), which is a partnership between NASA and international partners including Canada; and the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, which is designed to take astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time since 2011.
All three programs require extensive training before they can fly. In addition to meeting physical requirements such as height and weight requirements, astronauts must take exhaustive medical tests in order to pass their physicals. They also have to undergo extensive spaceflight training in order to prepare them for all eventualities during their missions.
After all this training, astronauts will undergo several weeks of training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston before being assigned their mission with NASA or its partner agency.
Yes, you can go to space as a tourist! You just have to book your ticket in advance.
The best way to start your journey is by going to the website Virgin Galactic or Space Adventures. They have information about how much it costs and what you need to do in order to book your flight. You can also ask them some questions about space travel and they will answer them all!
Once you know what's involved, it's time to make your plans! If you want to fly into space, there are different options available depending on where you live. If you live near a spaceport like John F Kennedy Airport in New York or White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, there are many flights available each week during peak times and weekends throughout the year.
Yes, you can. You can go to space as a tourist, or as an employee of a private company. And if you are a tourist, there is no limit on how high you can go.
However, there's another way to get into space: by paying the government to do it for you. That's because the US government owns a lot of the launch vehicles and has its own rockets that can take people into space for much less than it costs other countries to do so. In fact, we have more than enough resources in this country to send people into space without having to rely on foreign companies (this is what NASA does). So why don't we?
Conclusion:
The answer to this particular question is mostly "yes." You probably can't go to space as a tourist. But the fact that your average, run-of-the-mill person can is still pretty amazing. Space travel has long been a dream of many individuals, and now it's one step closer to reality. However, if you really want to go into space, there's still one final hurdle: you'll have to try out for a professional program like NASA's. Just make sure you're prepared in every way possible before you apply!