How much ticket to space costs in 2025?
How much does a space flight cost in 2025 (photo: Wikipedia)
A decade ago, space travel seemed like a fantasy, accessible only to astronauts. Today, more and more people can afford such a unique experience - provided that they have several million or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
RBC-Ukraine reports how much such a trip costs, what is needed for the flight, and what risks you will have to face.
How much will it cost to fly into space in 2025?
The main question for the future space tourist is the cost. If you dream of experiencing weightlessness for at least a few minutes, then a suborbital flight with Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin will cost about $ 250,000-450,000. For example, Blue Origin has already made such flights, and among the passengers was even 90-year-old William Shatner, known for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek.
For those who want more, there are orbital trips. For example, the company Axiom Space offers a week on the International Space Station (ISS) for $ 55 million. And if that's not enough for you - you can go even further.
SpaceX plans commercial flights around the moon, estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. So space is getting closer, but it remains entertaining for the chosen ones.
Space tourists (photo: Wikipedia)
What does it take to become a space tourist?
Having money is not everything. Space companies have strict requirements for the health of passengers. Before the flight, tourists undergo a medical examination, because serious problems with the heart, blood pressure, or musculoskeletal system can become an obstacle.
In addition, you need to undergo training and preparation. For example, future passengers of SpaceX and Axiom Space are trained in special centers, where they get used to weightlessness and learn to act in emergencies. Training can last from several days (for short flights) to several months (if you are flying to the ISS).
What risks and difficulties await tourists?
Space flight is not only an exciting experience but also a serious test for the body. The loads during launch and landing can be very strong, especially for people who are not used to extreme conditions.
Another important point is weightlessness. It can cause space sickness, which resembles severe seasickness. Even experienced astronauts often suffer from nausea, headaches, and disorientation in the first days of their stay in orbit.
Do not forget about radiation. In space, the level of radiation is much higher than on Earth, which can affect health, especially during long-term flights. In addition, there is a risk of technical malfunctions, because even the most modern spacecraft are not immune to breakdowns.
This is how the Earth looks from the Axiom module (photo: Wikipedia)
Will space tourism become more affordable in the future?
Although space is a luxury today, the situation may change in the future. Private companies are actively working to reduce the cost of flights. For example, SpaceX's Starship is being developed with the possibility of transporting a large number of people in mind, which will potentially make travel cheaper.
There are also concepts for orbital hotels. Axiom Space plans to open a commercial space module in the coming years, and Orbital Assembly Corporation dreams of building a space station that can accommodate tourists like a regular hotel.
If technology continues to develop at the same pace, then in 10-20 years a ticket to space may cost less than $50,000. For now, space tourism remains an exclusive entertainment for billionaires, but who knows - maybe in the next decades we will all be able to experience what it's like to see the Earth from a height of 400 km.
Sources: Virgin Galactic websites, Britannica, Wikipedia.
