Holidays in Space Available for Some

Visiting space used to be, for people who weren't astronauts in a world superpower's space program, something that was previously possible purely in the realms of science fiction, but we've now seen civilians in space on trips that they've paid for out of their own pocket.

It isn't cheap though. Of the seven people who have taken holidays aboard the International Space Station, none have paid less than $20 million. That buys you up to fifteen days on board the station, weightless and looking down on the world.

For those who can't afford that: don't worry! Sub-orbital tours (they're still technically space!) are selling for the low, low price of $200,000! That will get you a two hours and thirty minutes flight on one of Virgin Galactic's passenger crafts. You'll be taken to a height of fifty-thousand feet in the passenger craft whilst it is attached to the mother craft, at which point the two separate.

The passenger craft then flies up to, and past, the hundred kilometre altitude which is recognised as the boundary of space. At this height, you are officially no longer on Earth. You can enjoy up to six minutes of weightlessness, and look outside to see the curvature of the Earth and the stars without Earth's atmosphere in the way. Prices for these trips are even expected to fall to the incredibly affordable amount of $20,000 eventually.

That's not where the plans end though. With numerous companies looking into getting involved in the space industry, even offering space hotels, the variety of trips looks set to increase as the cost of them decreases. Not that we can guarantee this, as when has the free market worked out before?

Ultimately, most of us will never get to see our planet from outside its atmosphere, feel the effects of weightlessness, or look at twinkle-free stars; it will only be the rich who can enjoy that luxury. Meanwhile, the amount of fuel the industry will consume will rot our planet more and more for those of us left here.

But hey, at least the technology is impressive, right?

Tom Sangers is a regular contributor to the Online Travel Blog, a useful resource for travel resources.