Space Tourism

On Earth, every aspect of our homes has been an evolving process for generations whereas on Mars everything will be new and untested (Image: Bryan Versteeg / Spacehabs.com)

Space

SpaceHabs: One man's architectural vision for colonizing Mars

With a projected settlement date of 2025, the Mars One project has received over 200,000 applications for the one way trip to the Red Planet. Bryan Versteeg is a conceptual designer who’s been working with the Mars One team in anticipation of the planet’s eventual colonization.

Space

Commercial spaceflight training provider receives FAA safety approval

Individuals who dream of becoming astronauts will soon be able to buy training for exactly that purpose. Spaceflight training provider Waypoint 2 Space has been awarded safety approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its training programs that are due to begin this year.

Artist's concept of the World View balloon capsule in flight (Photo: World View Enterprises)

Space

World View Enterprises near-space balloon flights to begin in 2016

World View Enterprises is making a foray into the fledgling space (or near-space) tourism sector that will see passengers take a balloon ride to an altitude of 30 km (18.6 mi) from where they will be treated to a spectacular view of the Earth.

Space

PayPal Galactic – don't leave Earth without it

PayPal is teaming with the SETI Institute and the Space Tourism Society to brainstorm how to extend the PayPal brand across the Solar System.

Space

Sixteen-second engine burn pushes Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo past the sound barrier and into history

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo today successfully completed its first powered flight.

Space

SpaceShipTwo makes a spectacle of itself in “Cold Flow” test

SpaceShipTwo's latest test flight provided quite a spectacle with oxidizer flowing through the craft’s propulsion system and expelled through the nozzle at its rear to produce a contrail across the Mojave Desert sky.

Space

SpaceShipTwo's nitrous venting tested in-flight

A test flight on Wednesday morning saw SpaceShipTwo's nitrous loading and venting systems tested for the first time.

SpaceShipTwo's first glide in powered flight configuration with the rocket motor nozzle visible

Aircraft

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo glides towards first powered flight

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo completed its 23rd guide flight this week, which also marked the spaceplane’s first flight in powered flight configuration.

A replica of SpaceShipTwo on display at Farnborough Airshow (Photo: Mark Chivers/Virigin Galactic)

Aircraft

Richard Branson lays out roadmap to put satellites, and his kids, into space

Richard Branson today set out the roadmap for Virgin Galactic's immediate future by announcing plans to put small satellites into orbit.

VSS Enterprise glides to earth on its latest successful glide flight test (Photo: Chris Van Pelt)

Space

Virgin Galactic steps up the pace with latest SpaceShipTwo glide flight test

After an almost nine month break Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo (SS2) spaceplane is back in the air, successfully completing its 17th glide flight test last week.

The Dragon spacecraft that will be used to take passengers to the orbiting Bigelow habitats (Image: Bigelow Aerospace)

Aircraft

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace team up to push private space missions

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace (BA) are joining forces in an attempt to woo international customers looking to enjoy some extended periods of microgravity.

Space

Hermes spacecraft aims to join tourism space race

Phoenix, Arizona-based STAR (Space Transport and Recovery) Systems is seeking funds to aid in the next stage of development of its Hermes spacecraft that would carry paying private passengers into space.