Space Travel Updates: When Will We Be Able To Travel To Space? – Forbes

Popularity in civilian space travel is increasing as several of the worlds billionaires have an ongoing friendly competition. As the space exploration companies send their first crewed vehicles to the edge of space, how soon will space tourism becomes widely available?

The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo space plane Unity returns to earth after the mothership separated ... [+] at Spaceport America, near Truth and Consequences, New Mexico on July 11, 2021. - Billionaire Richard Branson took off July 11, 2021 from a base in New Mexico aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel bound for the edge of space, a voyage he hopes will lift the nascent space tourism industry off the ground.A massive carrier plane made a horizontal take-off from Spaceport, New Mexico at around 8:40 am Mountain Time (1440 GMT) and will ascend for around an hour to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15 kilometers).The mothership will then drop a rocket-powered spaceplane called VSS Unity, which will ignite its engine and ascend at Mach 3 beyond 50 miles (80 kilometers) of altitude, which marks the boundary of space according to the United States. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Virgin Galactic Space Flight

The Virgin Galactic VSS Unity is the most recent civilian spacecraft to push the envelope. Several final suborbital test flights are happening in late 2021 before the company gets clearance to take commercial passengers.

Company founder Richard Branson, three Virgin Galactic senior leaders, and two pilots flew to the edge of outer space on July 11, 2021. The VSS Unity flew to what the United States considers the beginning of outer space at 80 kilometers (approximately 262,000 feet).

To spark a little controversy, most nations consider the Krmn Line at 100 kilometers to be the official start of space. Other space tourism companies are striving to reach this boundary instead of where Virgin Galactic currently flies to.

The successful trip means Virgin Galactic is one step closer to letting civilian flights begin with the first flights departing in early 2022. So far, the company reports 600 active reservations, with each ticket selling between $200,000 and $250,000.

The company is having a raffle drawing for two seats on the first flights. Entrants can make a donation to Space for Humanity by September 1, 2021, to enter the giveaway.

The Virgin Galactic space experience takes place on the VSS Unity craft built for six passengers and two pilots. Flights depart from Spaceport America in Truths or Consequences, New Mexico.

Guests can enjoy the view of a lifetime and spend several minutes at the edge of space. There are 17 ship windows to look outside. The craft also has several in-cabin cameras to record the experience for posterity.

Blue Origin

Blue Origin is also sending its first crewed suborbital space flight on July 20, 2021. Thats nine days after Virgin Galactics first flight, but the Blue Origin vehicle will fly an additional 20 kilometers to the Krmn Line.

The July 20 test flight is Blue Origins 16th voyage for the New Shepard vehicle but its first with passengers. Its possible to watch the flight live online at BlueOrigin.com. New Shepard will launch from Launch Site One in Van Horn, located about 120 miles away from El Paso, Texas.

The passenger manifest includes Amazon.com and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and three passengers. Two of the other passengers are Mark Bezos (Jeffs younger brother) and Wally Funk, an 82-year-old female test pilot from the 1960s space training missions.

The identity of the third passenger hasnt been revealed yet. However, the lucky passenger paid $28 million in a charitable auction. The proceeds go to the Club for the Future philanthropic foundation to support STEM education.

Currently, Blue Origin has a Federal Aviation Administration license for human space travel through August 2021. If the first crewed flights are successful, the public can potentially start space tourism flights in early 2022.

Just like it was a race between Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin to see which company founder can go suborbital first, it can be a fierce competition to see which company successfully launches the first space tourism flights.

SpaceX

SpaceX is the third American competitor for space tourism. The company doesnt have plans to send its founder, Elon Musk, to space yet as its space travel model is a little more exciting. In typical Elon Musk fashion, SpaceX plans on sending travelers into actual outer space for a multi-day journey. Travelers might be able to stay aboard the spacecraft while orbiting around Earth.

The other possibility is visiting the International Space Station. SpaceX already has the claim of the first post-Space Shuttle crewed spaceflight. This flight took place in May 2020 with two astronauts. Another successful trip Crew-1 Mission in November 2020 that successfully docked four astronauts at the International Space Station.

Theres no official word when civilians will be able to partake in these overnight missions. Due to the complexity of this travel itinerary, tickets can also cost more than $1 million each.

For now, Elon Musk bought a ticket to take a future Virgin Galactic spaceflight. In time, SpaceX hopes to take missions to the Moon and also to Mars. The Moon landings could happen as soon as 2024, according to the company.

Summary

Aspiring space tourists should first focus on flying either Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin. These flights are easier to do as they only go to the edge of space and will be significantly cheaper. If everything goes according to plan, space tourism can become a reality in 2022.

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Space Travel Updates: When Will We Be Able To Travel To Space? - Forbes