Space Tourism: The Latest News, Features and Photos

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Latest about space tourism

A white Blue Origin suborbital rocket stands on its launch pad at dusk in West Texas.

What time is Blue Origin's private NS-26 astronaut launch on Aug. 29 (and how to watch live)

By Elizabeth Howell published

A Blue Origin rocket will launch a new private astronaut mission to suborbital space this week. Here's what time and where to watch.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX's black and white Polaris Dawn Falcon 9 rocket stands on the launch pad in stunning twilight.

SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn astronaut launch until at least Aug. 30 due to bad weather

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX scrubbed the planned Aug. 28 launch of the Polaris Dawn astronaut mission due to bad weather. The mission now won't fly until Friday (Aug. 30) at the earliest.

Missions
a black and white rocket topped by a white space capsule stand on a launch pad under a darkening evening sky

SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn astronaut launch to Aug. 28 due to helium leak

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX has pushed the launch of the historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission back 24 hours, to Wednesday morning (Aug. 28), due to a helium leak.

Missions
four astronauts in spacesuits with arms crossed and visors up

SpaceX Polaris Dawn astronauts will conduct high-flying research in Earth orbit

By Elizabeth Howell published

Polaris Dawn has lots of science on board. The SpaceX mission will fly high in Earth orbit to investigate how the human body changes under the extreme conditions of space.

Human Spaceflight
a white rocket launches into a blue sky, as seen from the ground

Blue Origin's next space tourism flight will launch on Aug. 29

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin is targeting Thursday (Aug. 29) for the launch of its eighth suborbital crewed mission, a flight called NS-26.

Private Spaceflight
a black and white spacex rocket test-fires its first-stage engines on the launch pad beneath a dark-blue late-evening or early-morning sky

SpaceX fires up Falcon 9 rocket ahead of Polaris Dawn astronaut launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX test-fired the first stage of Polaris Dawn's Falcon 9 rocket over the weekend, keeping the historic astronaut mission on track for an Aug. 27 launch.

Missions
illustration of an astronaut in a white spacesuit emerging from a white capsule in orbit

How SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn private spacewalk will work

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, which is scheduled to launch on Aug. 27, will feature the first-ever private spacewalk. Here's what to expect.

Human Spaceflight
two women astronauts in spacesuits with visors up, smiling

SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission will set altitude record for female astronauts

By Elizabeth Howell published

Two women astronauts on Polaris Dawn are set to break an altitude record set in 1990. Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon will fly higher than any female astronaut before them.

Human Spaceflight
a white cone-shaped capsule on a truck bed in front of a large hangar with a logo reading "spacex" on it

SpaceX delays launch of Polaris Dawn private spacewalk mission to Aug. 27

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission will wait one more day for launch as the company completes preflight checkouts of the spacecraft.

Private Spaceflight
four people in white spacesuits sitting inside a dragon spacecraft

How SpaceX modified a Dragon crew capsule for Polaris Dawn's historic private spacewalk

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX made several design changes to its Crew Dragon capsule to accommodate the first private spacewalk on the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission. Here are the key ones.

Human Spaceflight
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