The world's first lunar tourist
In 2001, Dennis Tito became the world's first space tourist, spending eight days on the International Space Station and orbiting the Earth a total of 128 times. Tito paid a reported $20 million for his trip, through an arrangement with space tourism company Space Adventures Ltd.
A number of startup companies sprang up in subsequent years in the hope of creating a space tourism industry. These included Virgin Galactic, using suborbital spacecraft designed by Scaled Composites and launched from Spaceport America in 2014. At a cost of $200,000 each, civilians could journey to a height of 110 km (68 miles), experiencing up to six minutes of zero-G whilst looking down on the Earth.
Other plans included an orbital hotel by Russian firm Energiya in partnership with US firm Orbital Technologies, along with a "budget" space plane offered by Swiss Space Systems and planned to commence by 2020.
Space Adventures was looking further, however, setting its sights on even more daring and ambitious ventures. From 2017, the company offers the first lunar orbits to paying tourists. For $150 million, passengers can travel beyond Earth orbit, enjoying circumlunar trips and viewing the Moon from just 100 km (62 mi) above its surface – as well as viewing the famous Earthrise. Prior to this service, only 24 people had ever experienced this view. Space Adventures' craft is also larger and more comfortable than those used during the Apollo program.
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