Put your name down for a space flight
We are used to jetting off to Spain, France and further-off destinations like America and Australia – but there is still a long time to go before the final frontier, space, becomes a holiday hotspot.
However, people keen to go to the stars now are being given the chance to do so in name if not in body.
Organisers of the Ansari X-Prize, the competition to encourage non-government groups to open up space to commercial travel, have teamed up with the New Mexico Museum of Space History to send a package of people’s names into space aboard SpaceShipOne, one of the rivals for the prize.
In June, SpaceShipOne became the first private spacecraft to reach space’s official 100km boundary, and it is due to be launched again on September 29.
People wanting to send their names will be charged $10 (about £5.60) and will receive a certificate.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the general public to participate in an innovative, new space product,” Jack Moore, from the museum, told BBC News.
Burt Rutan, SpaceShipOne’s designer, believes space tourism for thousands could happen within 15 years, with a ticket to the stars costing $30,000 (£17,000).
Report by News from Abroad
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025