For $3 million, be an understudy

Space Adventures announced today that, for the first time, it is selling the opportunity to be the backup crew member for one of its Soyuz space tourists. For $3 million, that person would go through the same six-month training program in Russia as Richard Garriott, the company’s next orbital customer; they are particularly interested in […]

An unlikely list of customers

An article in The West Australian reports that a Virgin Galactic seat will be auctioned off Saturday night during the Chinese Chamber of Commerce annual ball in Perth. Curiously, the article claims that “Bill Gates, Warren Buffet [sic], Oprah Winfrey, Sir Richard Branson and Donald Trump have already signed up for a space flight”. Branson, […]

Another company enters the terrestrial space tourism market

For a number of years companies like Space Adventures and Incredible Adventures have offered terrestrial analogues to spaceflight, including zero-g airplane flights, high-altitude jet flights, and cosmonaut training. Now another company, G.A.P Adventures, is entering the market, offering a similar suite of experiences. The company, which already offers a wide range of adventure tourism, sees […]