Latest news with #spaceTravel
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
How much does it cost to take a trip to outer space?
While billionaires like to launch their own space travel companies (Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic), you don't have to be one to join them. But it helps. The cost of a flight into space varies dramatically depending on what kind of mission you are looking for. 'As a ballpark, you're looking at well over $60 million (Dh220 million) for a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) or even your own customised orbital stay aboard a private space station,' says Roman Chiporukha, co-founder of SpaceVIP, who works closely with space tourism operators around the world to design customised missions for clients. At SpaceX, prices typically start from around $55 million (Dh202 million), but clients can pay upwards of $65 million (Dh238 million) depending on mission specifics. RocketBreaks, the world's first dedicated space travel agency, works closely with partners such as Axiom Space and SpaceX, providing access to orbital missions aboard Crew Dragon spacecraft. These missions range from free-flying orbital flights to stays aboard the ISS, lasting between eight and 14 days. RocketBreaks handles everything from training and launch preparation to accommodation, private jet charters, and even welcome-home parties. Barry Shanks, director at RocketBreaks, says: 'We also offer access to suborbital missions with Blue Origin (New Shepard), offering a brief but unforgettable taste of space, including several minutes of weightlessness and views from the Kármán line.' These typically cost between $250,000 and $500,000 (Dh 918,122 and Dh1.8 million) per person. The Kármán line is regarded as the 'Space Standard' benchmark for truly being in space and is 100km above sea level. Above 120km is typically needed for a sustained low Earth orbit while anything below this (around 80km to 120km) is considered 'suborbital'. To put it in context, a commercial plane travels at heights of 10-13km above sea level. Blue Origin's New Shepard reusable rocket carried six passengers, including pop star Katy Perry and an all-female crew, to the edge of space in April 2025. Although Blue Origin doesn't advertise fixed ticket prices, deposits of $150,000 (Dh550,873) are required to begin booking. The full price can go up to $4 million (Dh14 million), depending on the flight package and additional luxury touches. The major space travel companies are not always upfront about costs. This is often because pricing is variable, and some companies prefer to vet clients before discussing pricing. 'The truth is, many of these missions aren't just about adventure. Whether it's understanding human biology in zero-G, developing tech for future planetary missions, or even learning how to grow food off-world, there's value here beyond the experience itself,' says Shanks. Edge of space Virgin Galactic is more transparent about its pricing, with seats on its suborbital flights costing around $600,000 (Dh2.2 million) for both civilians and researchers. Suborbital flights don't achieve the necessary speed to complete an orbit, resulting in relatively short trips that last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo (VSS Unity) takes passengers to the edge of space for a few minutes of weightlessness before returning via glider to Spaceport America, New Mexico. The company plans to reopen ticket sales at the start of 2026, but anticipates price increases above the previous $600,000 per seat. One of the more forward-thinking players in the industry, Radian Aerospace, is introducing the Radian One spaceplane. It offers a horizontal takeoff and landing for a low-G orbital mission that makes space travel less intense physically. For $10 million-$15million (Dh36 million-Dh55 million), passengers will orbit Earth five times during a seven-and-a-half-hour journey and be back in time for dinner, which is a big step towards making orbital experiences more elegant and attainable. Cheaper options Space travel experts predict flights will become cheaper as reusable rockets become more refined and launch frequency increases. 'Like any emerging industry, space tourism will eventually benefit from economies of scale. Space tourism will follow a curve similar to that of commercial aviation in its early days,' explains Chiporukha. 'At first, it's prohibitively expensive and exclusive, but as more companies enter the space and infrastructure improves, prices will come down.' Analysts predict suborbital flights, currently priced at $200,000–$600,000 (Dh734,498-Dh2.2 million), could drop to $50,000–$100,000 (Dh183,624-Dh367,249) by the early 2030s as flight frequency increases and economies of scale kick in. A spokesperson for Mighty Travels Premium says: 'Orbital missions, now costing $50 million (Dh183 million) per seat, may also see reductions as companies like Axiom Space and Sierra Space expand operations. While exact timelines are uncertain, significant price drops are expected within the next five–10 years, especially for suborbital trips, making them accessible to a broader affluent market.' Musk has stated that Starship could potentially fly for as little as $2 million (Dh7.3 million) per seat, but this is a long-term goal for a fully reusable system, not the current cost of Crew Dragon flights. Starship has a strong focus on reusability, which is critical for making these missions financially feasible. Regular space travel will likely start with suborbital joyrides before expanding to orbital and lunar trips, driven by demand and technological advancements. Philipp Schaer is the CEO at MiGFlug, which specialises in fighter jet flights and previously took passengers on high-altitude/stratosphere trips to an altitude of up to 25.5km. 'We are rather pessimistic with the tourist space flights such as Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin, unless they come as a side-kick from a commercial operation to launch satellites, do research, etc. If the main thing is bringing tourists into space, we don't think this will ever be profitable, given the huge development costs,' he says. MiGFlug has seen growing interest from clients in the UAE. 'We have had an eye on Dubai for a while now, and we hope to find the right partner there soon.' Travel on a budget There are cheaper options for those who want an out-of-this-world experience on a budget. Rather than rockets, Space Perspective uses a luxury hydrogen balloon to lift passengers in a pressurised gondola to about 32km altitude. The full six‑hour experience costs $125,000 (Dh459,061), including a two‑hour float at the edge of space. Over 1,800 seats have been reserved so far. In late 2025, Danish Michelin-starred chef Rasmus Munk will team up with Space Perspective to take fine-dining into the upper atmosphere. Space Perspective is hoping to have a launch site in Dubai, which will give travellers the chance to see the Burj Khalifa from the edge of space. 'Being able to launch over Palm Island and go up and see the burst wave underneath and see all these recognisable landmarks, this is one of the most beautiful areas we could launch from,' said CEO Michael Savage. Chiporukha, who is a partner in this project, added: 'We now have an office at Dubai Media City and have been consulting with telcos who are expanding to satellites.' While there is no typical client, RocketBreaks' Shanks sheds some light on its space-travel-loving customers. 'We've worked with tech investors, entrepreneurs, adventure-seekers, and families celebrating major milestones. That said, our orbital enquiries tend to come from middle-aged business owners or UHNWIs who have already ticked off many once-in-a-lifetime experiences and are now looking up — literally.'
Bloomberg
28-05-2025
- General
- Bloomberg
Will Elon Musk or Anyone Get People to Mars?
The Asia Trade Former NASA astronaut William McArthur talks about the future of space travel and if Elon Musk or anyone can get humans to Mars. (Source: Bloomberg)
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- News.com.au
The truth about the future of space tourism
What does the future really hold for space tourism? Once a sci-fi fantasy, space travel for civilians is fast becoming reality—at least for the ultra-wealthy.
Gizmodo
19-05-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
26 Unidentified Bacterial Species Detected in NASA Cleanroom
In space travel, it can often be the tiniest things that ruin a big mission. That's why attention to detail is key, particularly inside a cleanroom where spacecraft are put together and prepped for their rigorous journey through the cosmos. But even those meticulously regulated rooms can't keep some microorganisms out. In fact, some bacteria thrive in the stringent environment. A group of scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as other institutes in India and Saudi Arabia, discovered 26 previously unknown bacterial species in the cleanroom used to assemble the Phoenix spacecraft ahead of its launch in August 2007. The discovery, recently published in the journal Microbiome, highlights the potential risk posed by highly resilient microorganisms that could contaminate space missions or the planets they visit. For the study, the team of scientists sequenced 215 bacterial strains. Some of these were present before the Phoenix spacecraft arrived at its cleanroom on April 25, 2007, while others formed during the spacecraft's assembly and testing, and after it had been moved to the launchpad to begin its journey to Mars. Out of the 215 strains, the team identified 53 strains belonging to 26 new species. 'Our study aimed to understand the risk of extremophiles being transferred in space missions and to identify which microorganisms might survive the harsh conditions of space,' Alexandre Rosado, a researcher at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and lead author of the study, said in a statement. 'This effort is pivotal for monitoring the risk of microbial contamination and safeguarding against unintentional colonization of exploring planets.' NASA cleanrooms are harsh environments for life, with carefully controlled temperature, humidity, and airflow to keep out dust and bacteria. The type of microorganisms that can survive in a cleanroom may also be equipped to make it in space. Many of the newly identified microorganisms that were growing in the NASA cleanroom were especially resilient against decontamination and radiation. The hardy bacteria carried a unique genetic defense system with traits like DNA repair, enhanced metabolism, and the ability to detoxify harmful molecules. These little guys are what Destiny's Child was singing about with their hit 'Survivor.' Aside from highlighting the potential impact of these bacteria in space, the new discovery could also have applications on Earth. 'Space travel provides an opportunity to study microorganisms that possess relevant stress-resistance genes,' Junia Schultz, a postdoctoral fellow at KAUST, and first author of the study, said in a statement. 'The genes identified in these newly discovered bacterial species could be engineered for applications in medicine, food preservation, and other industries.' NASA, it would seem, may also need to go back to the drawing board when it comes to its cleanroom design.
Gizmodo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Murderbot Is a Funny, Violent Exploration of What It Means to Be Human
On a distant planet in a future where space travel through wormholes is routine—and corny soap operas are considered 'premium entertainment'—surveyors make a discovery that would surely be deadly, if not for the Security Unit they've reluctantly brought with them. That's Murderbot, Apple TV+'s latest sci-fi venture, which layers that premise with many nuances, delights, shocks, and multidimensional characters, including the robot. Especially the robot. Alexander Skarsgård, who also executive produces, stars as the sentient construct made partially of metal, partially of cloned organic materials. The humans on the survey team are initially unaware it's secretly named itself 'Murderbot,' so they call it 'SecUnit.' They're also initially unaware that SecUnit is curious enough to have hacked its own 'governor module,' the part of its programming that makes it have to obey all human commands, and is therefore completely rogue. However, Murderbot still takes direction, albeit while grumbling in sarcastic voice-overs about how very weird humans are. It would much rather spend its time binging the thousands of hours of media it's downloaded—the viewer is treated to frequent glimpses of its favorite show, the hilariously lurid Star Trek riff The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon—than doing its actual job. But it has realized, much to its surprise, that these particular humans are actually… not terrible. As Murderbot shows us in a way that gently pokes fun (but is never mean-spirited), hippies find a way to persist even in an era where much of existence is beholden to the cold, greedy laws of 'the Company.' Somehow, they're a beacon of feel-good vibes in a system that gets by on cynicism and cruelty. Though the group hails from Preservation Alliance, a rare independent planet, they still must comply with the all-powerful corporation that won't permit their survey mission unless they rent the required equipment. Since they're on a budget, they go for the most cost-efficient choices, including a recently refurbished older-model SecUnit. To Murderbot's surprise, these 'idiots' consider it to be a person, an actual member of the team. That belief is further justified once they see its rather human-looking face, and realize there's something resembling a personality lurking beneath all that awkwardness and disdain. As SecUnit gets to know them, and steps up to protect them again and again, Murderbot finds a way into exploring larger questions about the differences between humans and machines, and the idea that self-awareness can have quite the learning curve no matter what material you're made from. Murderbot's casting is impeccable, so all praise to creators, writers, directors, and executive producers Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz and their team for assembling this group; along with Skarsgård, it's headed up by Noma Dumezweni as even-tempered (but prone to panic attacks) team leader Dr. Mensah and David Dastmalchian as augmented human Dr. Gurathin, who's distrustful of Murderbot from the start. The rest of the crew includes Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, and Tamara Podemski, whose characters have palpably close relationships even before the mission begins. Murderbot is based on Martha Wells' Hugo- and Nebula-winning Murderbot Diaries book series, but it specifically hews to the plot of All Systems Red, the 2017 novella that introduced Murderbot to the world. The adaptation is quite faithful though there are some understandable changes. The show obviously leans on voice-over to let the audience in on Murderbot's ongoing internal dialogue (his disgusted reactions help propel the series' wry sense of humor). A few characters are missing. And a few plot points are altered in ways that make the show's central mystery more visually dynamic. Oh yeah, that's right: Murderbot is also a mystery. Very soon after they arrive, the team realizes all is not what it seems on that distant planet. The pieces come together in a suspenseful yet fast-paced way—most episodes hover around 25 minutes and end on cliffhangers—as Murderbot and the humans become determined to outwit a murky yet obviously powerful threat. No plot spoilers here, but it's entirely worth pointing out that while the sci-fi thrills are a lot of fun, Murderbot's true pleasures come from its characters. Dumezweni is wonderful as the kind-hearted boss who treats everyone like family, but can and will step up to kick ass when needed; Dastmalchian has his best role since Late Night With the Devil, this time as a man who's overcome hell to find a safe place on Mensah's team, and isn't about to let a heavily armed and probably untrustworthy robot jeopardize that. Best of all, though, is Skarsgård. He makes Murderbot both physically imposing and completely nerdy, balancing thoughtful internal monologues with deadpan reactions and swift, violent action. Murderbot's Sanctuary Moon addiction may be a source of comedy, but the show and the performer also tap into it very cleverly, showing how absorbing trashy TV has actually taught it a great deal of emotional maturity—not to mention providing crack solutions to real-world problems. Murderbot's first two episodes arrive May 16 on Apple TV+, followed by a weekly rollout.
