Space tourism becomes a reality as NASA opens up the ISS
US space agency NASA is to allow tourists to visit the International Space Station from as early as next year, priced at $35,000 (£27,500) a night.
NASA said it would open the orbiting station to tourism and other commercial ventures, which could include filming and TV productions.
There will be up to two short private missions per year, said ISS deputy director Robyn Gatens.
Space tourists will be allowed to travel to the ISS for up to 30 days, travelling on US spacecraft.
"NASA is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as we’ve never done before," chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said in New York.
NASA said that private commercial entities would be responsible for determining crew composition and ensuring that the tourists – or private astronauts as it’s calling them – meet the medical and training requirements for spaceflight.
The two companies hired by NASA are Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which will use its Dragon capsule, and Boeing, which is building a spacecraft called the Starliner.
NASA had previously banned any commercial use of the space station and prohibited astronauts from taking part in research for profit.
However, it doesn’t own the ISS, which was built with Russia, which allowed US businessman Dennis Tito to visit in 2001, for which he paid around $20 million.
Today’s announcement is part of US President Donald Trump plans for its part of the ISS to survive without government funding by 2025.
The space agency recently announced that it planned to return to the moon by 2024, taking the first woman there and the first person in decades.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025