Universe Today » Space Tourism

Tourists to ISS Two at a Time Starting 2012?

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:13:54 +0000

According to a Russian official, the commercial space company Space Adventures will be sending two space tourists a year into orbit on Soyuz spacecraft from beginning in 2012. "We have been working on this project for a number of years" said Sergey Kostenko, the head of the company's office in Russia, who was quoted in the Russian news website RiaNovosti. "Each Soyuz will carry two tourists and a professional astronaut. One of the tourists will have to pass a year-and-a-half training course as a flight engineer."
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Spectacular Soyuz Rollout Images

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:17:41 +0000

NASA photographer Bill Ingalls is in Russia at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, capturing the rollout of the Soyuz TMA-16 rocket today, scheduled to launch on Sept. 30 to the International Space Station. Of course the Soyuz rollout and launch is a whole different experience from the shuttle rollout, and these pictures tell the story. Additionally, this launch has a bit more "festive" feel to it: spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, is part of the crew. Also on board, Soyuz Commander Max Suraev, and NASA Flight Engineer Jeff Williams are scheduled to launch at 2:14 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Above, a Russian security officers walk along the railroad tracks as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad.
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Armadillo Powers Toward $1 Million Prize

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:58:15 +0000

A rocket powered vehicle successfully completed the first step toward qualifying to win a $1 million prize for NASA's Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Armadillo Aerospace's "Scorpius" lander set world records for vertical landings and takeoff flights by flying up 50 meters (164 feet) into the air, maneuvering over to land on a simulated rocky lunar surface 50 meters (164 feet) away, and then rising and flying back to land where it started. The flight included a requirement of at least 180 seconds of flying time. Watch the video from the second qualifying flight here. Armadillo is the first team of three teams looking to nab the prize this year.
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Once Classified Russian Rockets to be Used for Commercial Space Venture

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:43:36 +0000

An international company announced plans to launch a commercial space venture using spacecraft designed for a once classified Russian space program. Excalibur Almaz Limited plans to offer week-long orbital space flights beginning as early as 2013 with updated 1970's era Reusable Return Vehicles, designed for flying to the USSR's top-secret Almaz space station. Excalibur Alamaz's press release said they would be "taking a big leap beyond the sub-orbital flight market targeted by most other private space companies."
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XCOR X-Racer Videos

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:07:21 +0000

The XCOR X-Racer Prototype, built for the Rocket Racing League was flown at the AirVenture 2008, and XCOR just released a couple of videos. This is an onboard camera split view from one flight and its a lot of fun to watch. The pilot is Richard Searfoss, Astronaut (former) and Col. USAF (Ret.), and the Flight Test Engineer is Mark Street.

Below is a music video showing a sped-up version of getting the X-Racer ready to go, and the flight.
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Launch Your Own Personal Satellite for $8,000 USD

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:26:54 +0000

A TubeSat. Credit: InterOrbital.com

Want to launch something into space? You can now do just that for only $8,000 USD. The rocket company Interorbital Services (IOS) is offering their "TubeSat Personal Satellite Kit" that can carry 0.75-kg into orbit. The price includes a launch into low Earth orbit on an IOS NEPTUNE 30 launch vehicle to 310 kilometers (192 miles) above the Earth. TubeSats are designed to be orbit-friendly, and not contribute to orbital debris by being in a self-decaying orbit. Launches are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.
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Watch WhiteKnightTwo Take Flight (Video)

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:40:32 +0000

Attendees at the AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin were treated with watching Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo take flight. On board the mothership — which will launch space tourism and science customers into space — was none other than Vigin's founder Richard Branson. "This was one of the most incredible experiences of my life," Branson said after the flight. "It’s a beautiful aircraft to fly and its incredibly light carbon construction and efficient design points the way to a much brighter future for commercial aviation as well as the industrial revolution in space which I believe our entire space launch system heralds."
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First Weightless Wedding

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:08:34 +0000

Noah Fulmor and Erin Finnegan flip in float as they say their 'I Do's' in weightlessness with ZERO-G. Credit: Reuters

A couple flew like Superman and floated upside down to say their wedding vows on Saturday, as Zero Gravity Corporation hosted the world's first-ever weightless wedding. Noah Fulmor and Erin Finnegan were married on June 20 among family and friends who were all on board ZERO-G's G-FORCE One, a specially modified Boeing 727. Officiating the wedding was Richard Garriott, the sixth private explorer in history to go to space, and the first second-generation U.S. astronaut. "I am honored to be taking part in Erin and Noah's wedding. I know firsthand the added thrill microgravity will play in their already joyous event," said Garriott. "The excitement from these first ever microgravity nuptials will not soon fade in the minds of all the members of the wedding party."
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World's First Spaceport Begins Construction

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:54:33 +0000

Spaceport America designed by URS/Foster + partners. Conceptual image courtesy Vyonyx Ltd.

The western United States used to be known as the frontier, and now that region will provide access to the final frontier. On June 19, ground will be broken in New Mexico for Spaceport America, the world's first commercial spaceport built for launching private citizens into space. Groundbreaking ceremonies will include a flyover by Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo, the mothership that will send tourists on their way to space in SpaceShip2. Virgin Galactic will be the first – if not most important — tenant of Spaceport America, and already more than 250 people have put money down to take trips to the edge of space as early as next year.
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We All Need to Chill Out About Flight Tests

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:22:56 +0000

Artist concept of the Ares 1-X launch. Credit: NASA

At a session today from the International Space Development Conference going in Orlando, Florida, the CEO of the commercial space company XCOR Aerospace had a few suggestions for all the eager space enthusiasts out there concerning test flights. In so many words Jeff Greason said everyone needs to chill out about the results from initial test flights. Of course, he was talking about all the test flights taking place with commercial space endeavors, but with the Ares 1-X getting ready to head to the launch pad for its first flight test, scheduled for August, perhaps we all need heed Greason's advice and let the experts do their jobs.
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Space Tourist Flights to ISS Still On, Says Space Adventures

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:29:49 +0000

Soyuz capsule docked to the ISS. Credit: NASA

If flying to the International Space Station has been one of your lifelong dreams, don't give up hope just yet. While NASA and even the Russian space agency have been warning that with the increase in crew size on the ISS, there won't be room for any space tourists on board the Soyuz crew exchange flights, Eric Anderson, CEO of Space Adventures held a news conference on Friday to let everyone know the space tourist game is still on. "Space Adventures is very much looking to continue providing orbital space flight opportunities to the ISS, even as the logistical and crew situation continues to evolve," Anderson said. "We plan to do this in two ways. First, via privately funded Soyuz missions; fully dedicated flights of the Soyuz with two seats available for private spaceflight. That program is moving full steam ahead and we anticipate first flight of that profile could launch in 2012." The second option, Anderson said, is that they anticipate the 3rd seat on board the Soyuz could become available occasionally.
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WhiteKnightTwo Makes Longest and Fastest Test Flight

Nancy Atkinson — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:59:53 +0000

The mothership for Virgin Galactic's commercial space flights recently completed its third successful test flight, going faster and farther than any previous flights. The WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) flew for over two and half hours, at a maximum speed of 140 knots and an altitude of over 18,000 ft. "This is a truly remarkable aviation vehicle," said test pilot Peter Siebold, "and, although it might look unique from the ground it is not strange to fly in any way and is in fact a great piloting experience. Now the stratosphere is the limit as we will continually test Eve (WK2) for the next few months up to her ceiling of above 50,000 ft."

A video of WK2 and the flight is available below.
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Space Tourist Sub-Orbital Flights From Hawaii?

Ian O'Neill — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:00:56 +0000

Private spaceflight companies seem to be getting closer and closer to the dream of launching a new breed of tourist on sub-orbital sightseeing tours. Since the late '90's the company Space Adventures has been sending millionaires on "trips of a lifetime", but their most popular destination, the International Space Station, will stop hosting spaceflight participants at the end of this year as the Russian Soyuz spaceship wont have any more spare seats (as the crew on the station increase from three to six).

However, there are other private spaceflight companies beginning to realise the profits that could be made in space, not by dropping people off on the space station, but by launching them on short sub-orbital joyrides. They are building their own spaceships and even before the first rocket has ignited, there is growing competition for a piece of the space tourism market. Ticket prices have tumbled from the tens of millions (for a few days in orbit) to $200,000 (for a couple of hours on board a Virgin Galactic flight) to $95,000 (on board XCOR's Lynx spaceplane for 30 minutes).

So, where should these companies launch their space tourists from? Although the space above the Mojave and New Mexico deserts are likely to be thundering to life within the next few years, a slightly more exotic destination is currently vying for a position in this burgeoning industry. Hawaii could be perfectly located not only for suborbital tourism, but for a revolution in global travel…
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No More Tourists on the ISS?

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:52:54 +0000

An official from the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said the International Space Station will not be available for visits by space tourists after 2009, the Russian news agency Novosti reported. As the ISS crew grows from three to six, all the seats on the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft will be used by astronauts and cosmonauts from the various international partners of the ISS, not leaving any room for paying tourists. Director Anatoly Perminov said the last commercial flights would be made this year; in March 2009 former Microsoft software guru Charles Simonyi will make his second trip to the space station, and a Kazakh cosmonaut will fly to the ISS in the fall of 2009.
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XCOR Releases New Images of Rocket Test

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:28:25 +0000

In December, XCOR Aerospace, Inc. successfully completed its first test fire of the rocket engine that will be used to power its Lynx suborbital launch vehicle to the edge of space. Today, they released some new images of the test that are sure to excite any rocket enthusiast. The new engine, called the 5K18, produces between 2500-2900 lbs of thrust by burning a mixture of liquid oxygen and kerosene. The engine was fired Monday, December 15th, 2008 at XCOR’s rocket test facility located at the Mojave Air and Space Port. XCOR is the company that dropped its price of a suborbital ride to the edge of space to $95,000. The Lynx will use four of the 5K18 engines to carry people or payloads 61 kilometers (37 miles) above the Earth. “Firing a new rocket engine is always an important milestone,” said XCOR COO Andrew Nelson. “It gives everyone on the team a tremendous sense of accomplishment and demonstrates to customers and investors that XCOR knows how to take new ideas and make them a reality.”

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First Test Flight of WhiteKnightTwo

Nancy Atkinson — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:38:21 +0000

Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) made its first test flight on Sunday, Dec. 21, a 59min shakedown flight of the twin fuselage aircraft at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. WK2 climbed to a maximum altitude of 16,000ft (4,880m). "It reached an altitude 4,000ft above the original test plan's maximum altitude," said Virgin Galactic president Will Whitehorn. "That is how confident we are about the aircraft. Now we have to download all the data. There will be another flight early in the new year." WK2 will carry Virgin's SpaceShipTwo, the space plane that will bring passengers on suborbital flights, hopefully by 2011. FlightGlobal.com obtained exclusive video of the test flight, which can be viewed here.
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Spaceport America Closer to Reality

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:47:17 +0000

Artist's concept of the New Mexico's Spaceport America. Courtesy NMSA

If you're thinking about booking flight on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShip Two, launching a payload with UP Aerospace or Armadillo Aerospace, or can't wait to watch the Rocket Racing League, you'll be happy to know New Mexico's Spaceport America is two steps closer to becoming a reality and not just a dream. An environmental impact study on the facility was completed and approved, which set the stage for the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to be able to issue a launch license to the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA). The license is for both vertical and horizontal launches. “These two governmental approvals are the next steps along the road to a fully operational commercial spaceport,” said NMSA Executive Director Steven Landeene. Now, with license in hand, construction can begin on the futuristic-looking spaceport facility. Is the future and potential of commercial/personal spaceflight actually getting closer?
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Cheers! Japanese Brewery Produces Space Beer… But What's the Point?

Ian O'Neill — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:45:52 +0000

For the first time, beer brewed totally from barley grown in space can be enjoyed on terra firma. The Japanese-owned Sapporo Brewery is one of the oldest beer producers in the nation, so it seems fitting that the company would want to diversify into the next frontier. Although the beer wasn't actually brewed in space, the barley ingredient was grown there. Through a joint program between Sapporo, the Russian Academy of Science and Okayama University in Japan, the small amount of barley was grown on board the ISS as part of a project to research the cultivation of foodstuffs in Earth orbit.

100 litres of Space Beer has been produced as a result of the successful microgravity barley farming effort, and a lucky 60 people will have the exclusive chance to taste the beer in Tokyo next month. Unfortunately, the Space Beer is not yet commercially available, so put that pint glass away…
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Fare Alert! Price Drops for XCOR's Ticket to Space

Nancy Atkinson — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:48:50 +0000

The commercial space company XCOR announced today that the travel company RocketShip Tours will begin selling suborbital rides on XCOR's two-seater spacecraft, the Lynx. And get this: the price for the ticket has actually been lowered from the original estimates. $95,000 USD will get you a seat right up front, next to XCOR pilot and former space shuttle commander Rick Searfoss, for a 30 minute ride to the edge of space. XCOR decided early on not to sell the tickets themselves directly to consumers, but instead offer wholesale packages to adventure travel companies, which will set the price for customers. Jules Klar, founder of Phoenix, AZ-based RocketShip Tours, said in today's press conference that the price includes the "complete and total experience" that incorporates a 5-day program of briefings, medical evaluations, test flights on aircraft to test for g-forces and claustrophia before going on the real flight on the Lynx.
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Ham Radio Operator Communicates with Space Station

Ian O'Neill — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:21:59 +0000

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Ham radio equipment (K6PV)

A Canadian amateur radio operator had an 11 minute opportunity to listen out for the International Space Station (ISS) as it passed overhead on October 20th with space tourist Richard Garriott on board. Garriott was also using ham radio during his stay on board the station to communicate with other ham radio enthusiasts on the ground. Murray Crandon from Saskatchewan heard Garriott seeking contact and they exchanged call signs, but Crandon was aware Garriott had a lot of people to make contact with and kept his communication short…
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Space Tourist Garriott Docks with Station (Videos)

Ian O'Neill — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:20:50 +0000

The Soyuz TMA-13 carrying Expedition 18 to the International Space Station (ISS) has successfully docked, delivering astronaut Mike Fincke, cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov and space tourist Richard Garriott. The Soyuz spaceship docked with the Zarya module ahead of schedule over breathtaking views of southern Asia. Richard Garriott, a 47 year-old computer games entrepreneur and son of retired US astronaut Owen Garriott, spent $30 million for the privilege of spending ten days travelling to, and living on the orbital outpost. To appreciate how the Earth has changed in the 35 years since his father first looked down on Earth from the US Skylab space station, Garriott Jr. will spend some of his time taking photos of our planet so the images can be compared…
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Space Tourist Richard Garriott Launched on Space Station Vacation…

Ian O'Neill — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:17:17 +0000

The Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft (Expedition 18) launches Michael Fincke, Yury V. Lonchakov and Richard Garriott (AP Photo/NASA)

…but the station's toilet has broken down again.

For $30 million, you can get a ride into space for a 10-day trip on board the International Space Station. To Richard Garriott, this is money well-spent. He got to spend months training for the experience and he will use the adventure to carry out experiments, educational programs and to follow in his father's footsteps. 25-years earlier, Owen Garriott flew on Space Shuttle Columbia, and before that he served on Skylab. Having successfully launched on board the Soyuz launch vehicle on Sunday, Garriott Jr. is keen to make space travel a family affair, and make some history along the way; he is the first second-generation American astronaut ever to be launched into space. It sounds like an exciting few days await the 47 year old computer video game entrepreneur…

But like any positive story, there's a flip-side. The International Space Station, far from being The Ritz at the best of times, has been inflicted with a rather annoying inconvenience… the main toilet is out of order, requiring all on board to use the Soyuz en-suite. Although it is doubtful Garriott will get a room credit for the inconvenience, I'm sure the view of the Earth rotating below, the excitement of being involved in the biggest space project ever conceived, and the joy of zero-G will more than make up for the bathroom situation…
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Virgin Galactic Wants to Do Science, Too

Nancy Atkinson — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:49:55 +0000

The company that aims to be the first "spaceline," by taking paying passenger to space on a regular basis is also looking at contributing to science, too. Virgin Galactic is looking at the possibility of carrying scientific instruments on board the aircraft that brings its spaceship skyward. Richard Branson is teaming up with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to gather information about atmospheric composition and particularly greenhouse gases. NOAA is interested in flying atmospheric monitoring instruments on the carrier vehicle WhiteKnightTwo, because it will be in regular flight above 50,000 ft for the next year-and-a-half during its test-flight period. "Almost everything NOAA does at the moment is at 25,000ft (7,600m) maximum altitude. It's quite difficult to find research aircraft that do atmospheric testing above that," said Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic.
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Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo Sees Sunlight for the First Time (Gallery)

Ian O'Neill — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:41:03 +0000

Early this morning in the Californian Mojave Desert, Richard Branson and Burt Rutan unveiled the completed Virgin Galactic Mothership "Eve," the first time this highly secretive project has seen the light of day. This is a significant moment for both Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites, the company that built Eve, as it shows space tourism is only a heartbeat away. Now we await the completion of SpaceShipTwo that is expected to begin test flights with Eve by 2009.

The rollout represents another major milestone in Virgin Galactic's quest to launch the world's first private, environmentally benign, space access system for people, payload and science. – Virgin Galactic rollout press release (July 28th).

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A Match Made in Space

Nancy Atkinson — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:21:14 +0000

Rocketplane Global has announced they will be offering the opportunity for people to get married in space. On their upcoming planned suborbital flights, the space tourism company is making available specialty charter flights that include space wedding ceremonies. Billed as "the ultimate high-end celebrity wedding," the package was first un"veiled" in Japan earlier this month by Rocketplane Japan and First Advantage Travel. With the shirtsleeve cabin environment of the XP spaceplane and its redundant life support systems, the wedding party can wear clothing of their own choosing. No need for "bulky helmets or pressure suits which would detract from the beauty of the ceremony and of course the Wedding Kiss," said the press release. No mention if the happy couples can then become part of the 60 Mile High Club.
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