It was not very long ago, that the idea of traveling to space looked like something only astronauts or science fiction heroes could dream of. It is because of the companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, the ordinary people with enough money today can buy a ticket to leave planet Earth. But before you pack your bags for orbit, you should perhaps, know the answer to one very important question, that is how much does space travel cost?

In this blog, we’ll explore the different kinds of space travel now available or in development which explains what goes into pricing these journeys, and gives you a better idea of what you’d have to pay if you want to go to space.

What Kinds of Space Travel Are Available?

The space travel cost depends largely on what kind of trip you're planning. There are short suborbital flights that take you just near the space and bring you back down in minutes. There are longer orbital missions where you circle in orbit and may even visit the International Space Station. Additionally, the corporations are planning deep space flights that might possibly carry visitors to Mars or perhaps around the Moon.  Each of these choices has a very different cost and provides a distinct experience.

How Much Do Suborbital Flights Cost?

Although it is still quite costly, suborbital flights are now the least expensive way to fly to space.  Virgin Galactic uses their SpaceShipTwo spacecraft to provide these kinds of journeys. Before returning, passengers can witness the Earth's curve and spend a few minutes in weightless. This event requires space travel, which costs about $450,000 per person.

Using its New Shepard rocket, Blue Origin also provides suborbital travel.  Passengers float in zero gravity for a brief period of time during these flights, which last roughly ten minutes from takeoff to landing. The estimates indicate that a seat in space travel cost anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000, though prices are not generally disclosed. Although these travels are for short term, they provide the excitement of traveling to space. These suborbital trips are the best choice if you're looking for the cheapest space travel cost available right now.

How Much Do Orbital Flights Cost?

It is very clear now that the space travel cost rises gradually if you wish to orbit the Earth and spend longer time in space. These private trips to the International Space Station are available through SpaceX and Axiom Space. These trips require a stay on the ISS, several days in orbit, and complete astronaut training. One passenger on such a journey would have to pay roughly $55 million for space travel.

The first company to provide orbital tourism was Roscosmos, an organization based in Russia.  The first private visitor to the International Space Station, Dennis Tito, paid $20 million for his 2001 voyage. Since then, other travelers have spent anything from $20 million to $40 million. The weeks of training were also necessary for these journeys, which included prolonged stay in orbit. Clearly, if you're dreaming of orbiting the Earth, the space travel cost jumps from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars.

What About Deep-Space Travel?

One day, visitors may be able to visit the Moon or Mars because of the deep space travel options being developed by companies like SpaceX. Starship is a long distance, totally reusable spacecraft being developed by Elon Musk's firm. Although the initial journey will be much more costly, Musk has chosen that the cost of space travel to Mars may finally be as low as $100,000.

The dearMoon project, a future Starship journey around the Moon, has already been scheduled by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa. He is inviting a group of artists to accompany him and is covering the full cost of the endeavor. Although the precise amount has not been disclosed, it is thought to be in the hundreds of millions. The deep space tourism is still in its infancy, and almost no one can currently afford the space travel cost required for such a trip.

Why Is Space Travel So Expensive?

The expense of space travel is still very high for a variety of reasons. First, a rocket needs a lot of fuel and very classy equipment to be launched into space. The complicated engineering and materials that must tolerate the severe conditions of space are needed to build rockets, spaceships, and life support systems. Second, before they can fly, space visitors need to complete training. In the event of an alternative, this includes healthcare examinations, playing the role, and occasionally even survival training. The total cost is increased by all of this.

The expense of safety comes in third. Each mission needs to be insured, tracked and tested. Although space travel is safer because to these added precautions, the space travel cost is higher.
The space travel cost is still influenced by a number of elements, like as personnel, risk management, and logistics, even as businesses create more efficient systems and reusable rockets.

Are There Any Hidden or Extra Costs?

The overall space travel cost may include other costs in addition to the primary ticket price.  Travel expenses to and from the launch site, personal medical examinations, insurance, and lodging during training may be required by space tourists. Companies occasionally include these in the total package, but not usually.  When the base price is already so high, it is essential to understand these additional factors before making travel arrangements.

Who Has Paid to Go to Space?

A number of people have already paid for their spot in the space in the history. The first one was Dennis Tito, who flew on a Russian Soyuz mission for $20 million. The civilian Inspiration4 mission was funded and piloted by Internet entrepreneur Jared Isaacman on a SpaceX Crew Dragon. Also, William Shatner and Jeff Bezos were among the other passengers who took short suborbital flights with Blue Origin. These examples show that even though space travel is incredibly expensive, some people are ready to pay for the opportunity to travel beyond Earth.

Will Space Travel Ever Be Affordable?

Many people question if ordinary people will ever be able to afford space travel. The experts forecast that as competition increases and technology advances over the coming decades, the cost of space travel may drop slowly. One day, a suborbital flight might cost less than $50,000, according to some predictions. It will take time, though. As of right now, only the very wealthy can afford to fly to space.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, current space travel cost range for a short suborbital flight range from $250,000 to $500,000. The cost increases to at least $20 million for a multiday orbital mission. Although they are still in the planning stages, deep space travel, like orbiting the moon, may potentially cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. The fantasy of going to space is becoming more and more real every year, even though the cost is still much too costly for the majority of people. We might see common people visiting space in the future, just as they already book flights around the globe, as more missions are launched and technology advances.