Space Tourism: The Latest News, Features and Photos

Virgin Galactic customer Joanne Le Bon got a taste of weightlessness aboard a ZERO-G flight in September 2013.
Virgin Galactic customer Joanne Le Bon got a taste of weightlessness aboard a ZERO-G flight in September 2013. (Image credit: Steve Boxall)

Learn the latest news about space tourism and space tourist trips into outer space. Space.com looks at the growing business of space tourism. 

Related Topics: SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Incredible Space Tech, International Space Station, Interstellar Travel 

Latest about space tourism

a metallic dark-purple space plane sits inside a hangar
Virgin Galactic delays next commercial spaceflight to 2027

By Mike Wall Published

Virgin Galactic has pushed the resumption of its commercial flights back by a few months, to February 2027. The company hasn't been to space since June 2024.

8 Comments
Private Spaceflight
The International Space Station.
'Fully unlocking the orbital economy': This California company will fly astronauts to the space station in 2027

By Mike Wall Published

NASA has selected the California startup Vast to operate the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff is targeted for summer 2027.

3 Comments
Human Spaceflight
An illustration of a globe surrounded by various lines with dots of different colors engulfing the sphere against a black background
China joins race to develop space-based data centers with 5-year plan

By Julian Dossett Published

China will work on establishing space-based data centers as a part of a larger five-year plan to expand the nation's already significant presence in space.

11 Comments
Satellites
a small rocket carrying six people in a capsule lifts off, set against the rising sun
Chinese space tourism startup eyes 2028 for 1st crewed mission, signs celebrity for future flight

By Andrew Jones Published

InterstellOr is already taking bookings for its planned suborbital flights and says it has attracted its first celebrity passenger, highlighting China's growing commercial space ambitions.

3 Comments
Human Spaceflight
a white rocket lifts off from a desert launch site into the dawn sky
Blue Origin pausing space tourism flights for at least 2 years to focus on moon plans

By Mike Wall Published

Blue Origin will ground its New Shepard suborbital vehicle for at least two years, in order to devote more resources to the company's crewed moon plans.

6 Comments
Private Spaceflight
a tiny rocket launches from a desert launch pad.
Blue Origin launches 6 space tourists to the final frontier after last-minute crew swap (video)

By Mike Wall Published

Blue Origin launched six people to suborbital space today (Jan. 22). It was the 17th human spaceflight for the company, which was founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

2 Comments
Private Spaceflight
a small rocket carrying six people in a capsule lifts off, set against the rising sun
Watch Blue Origin launch 6 people to suborbital space today

By Mike Wall Published

Blue Origin will launch six people to the final frontier on Thursday (Jan. 22), and you can watch the space tourism mission live.

2 Comments
Private Spaceflight
a small rocket carrying six people in a capsule lifts off, set against the rising sun
Blue Origin launches 1st wheelchair user to space and back (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated

Blue Origin launched wheelchair user Michi Benthaus and her NS-37 five crewmates aboard a New Shepard rocket from West Texas on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.

8 Comments
Private Spaceflight
a white rocket lifts off from a desert launch site into the dawn sky
Blue Origin targeting Dec. 18 for historic 1st spaceflight of wheelchair user

By Mike Wall Published

Blue Origin is targeting Dec. 18 for its NS-37 suborbital launch, which will fly a wheelchair user to space for the first time ever.

3 Comments
Private Spaceflight
Michaela Benthaus has taken numerous parabolic flights carrying out unique accessibility experiments.
Blue Origin's next space tourism flight will break new ground for people with disabilities

By Leonard David Published

Blue Origin's upcoming NS-37 space tourism launch has special significance: One of the passengers is Michi Benthaus, who will become the first wheelchair user in space.

Human Spaceflight
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