Space Tourism: The Latest News, Features and Photos

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A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the Ax-3 astronauts is recovered from the Atlantic Ocean after splashdown on Feb. 9, 2024.

SpaceX Dragon carrying Ax-3 astronauts splashes down in Atlantic to end longest private spaceflight for Axiom Space

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean early Friday (Feb. 9), wrapping up a record-setting private trip to the International Space Station.

Human Spaceflight
illustration of a person in a white spacesuit leaving a white space capsule to go on a spacewalk, with the curve of earth in the background.

SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn orbital mission delayed to summer 2024

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, which aims to pull off the first-ever private spacewalk, will now launch no earlier than this summer.

Private Spaceflight
11 people in flight suits wave to the camera aboard the white-walled international space station.

20 people in space! Humanity quietly tied a record last month

By Mike Wall published

For a few minutes on Jan. 26, 20 people were in space at the same time, tying a record set just last May.

Human Spaceflight
a floating peanut butter jar and a floating tortilla with peanut butter, beside each other, in an international space station module

Ax-3 astronauts leave precious parting gift behind for ISS crew: peanut butter

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX astronauts with Axiom Space decided to leave behind a special snack for the International Space Station crew, shortly after National Peanut Butter Day in the United States.

Human Spaceflight
closeup of crew dragon departing the space station

Ax-3 astronauts depart ISS in SpaceX Dragon capsule for splashdown on Feb. 9 (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

The four astronauts of the private Ax-3 mission departed the International Space Station in their SpaceX Dragon capsule on Feb. 7, following days of weather delays.

Human Spaceflight
Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane lights its rocket motor during the Galactic 06 suborbital mission, which launched on Jan. 26, 2024.

Virgin Galactic mothership loses alignment pin during space plane launch, FAA investigating

By Brett Tingley published

Virgin Galactic informed the FAA that the mothership of its space plane VSS Unity lost a piece of hardware on its most recent suborbital flight.

Human Spaceflight
a space plane lights its rocket motor in space, with the curve of earth in the background.

Virgin Galactic launches 1st Ukrainian woman to space  —  and 3 others  —  on Galactic 06 suborbital flight (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

Virgin Galactic launched its sixth commercial mission today (Jan. 26), sending four passengers to suborbital space and back.

Human Spaceflight
the curve of earth against the blackness of space, with part of a silvery spacecraft in the foreground.

Virgin Galactic may launch 6th commercial spaceflight this week

By Mike Wall published

Virgin Galactic's sixth commercial spaceflight may be just around the corner. The launch window for the Galactic 06 mission opens on Friday (Jan. 26).

Human Spaceflight
11 astronauts in blue and red flight suits hold a welcome ceremony on the international space station

'We have doubled the number of nationalities aboard' ISS as all-European SpaceX Ax-3 astronauts dock at space station

By Josh Dinner last updated

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom arrived at the ISS early Saturday morning (Jan. 20) with the four astronauts of the private Ax-3 mission to begin a two-week mission aboard.

Launches & Spacecraft
a rocket launches above a plume of smoke

SpaceX launches private Ax-3 mission to ISS, 1st Turkish astronaut on board

By Josh Dinner published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida today (Jan. 18), sending four people, including Turkey's first astronaut, toward the ISS.

Launches & Spacecraft
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