Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Fri Mar 6, 2020, 06:11 PM Mar 2020

SpaceX announces deal to send tourists to the International Space Station

Source: ABC

SpaceX announced a new partnership to send the first fully private flight with tourists and a tour guide to the International Space Station as early as next year. The Elon Musk-spearheaded private space company signed a contract with Axiom Space to transport a space tour guide trained by Axiom and three private astronauts to and from the ISS on the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

"Since 2012, SpaceX has been delivering cargo to the International Space Station in partnership with NASA and later this year, we will fly NASA astronauts for the first time," SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement Thursday.

"Now, thanks to Axiom and their support from NASA, privately crewed missions will have unprecedented access to the space station, furthering the commercialization of space and helping usher in a new era of human exploration," Shotwell added.

The mission is set to take place as soon as the second half of 2021. The space tourists will be able to live aboard the ISS for eight days and view Earth from above.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/spacex-announces-deal-send-tourists-international-space-station/story?id=69433693

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
SpaceX announces deal to send tourists to the International Space Station (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Mar 2020 OP
Nice! nt iluvtennis Mar 2020 #1
The company did not disclose the cost of the private ISS voyage. n/t left-of-center2012 Mar 2020 #2
I guess if we need to ask, then we can't afford it... Talitha Mar 2020 #7
Circus ride for untaxed billionaires PSPS Mar 2020 #3
Agreed. Miguelito Loveless Mar 2020 #4
Ugh! paleotn Mar 2020 #5
Exactly. Dem2theMax Mar 2020 #6
What does this do? *flips switch, pushes button, turns knobs* truthisfreedom Mar 2020 #13
It's a separate section RandiFan1290 Mar 2020 #10
And NASA is also charging Axiom Massacure Mar 2020 #12
World's most expensive cruise ship trip? After seeing what happens on them? FailureToCommunicate Mar 2020 #8
Is there a deal to bring them back too? n/t PoliticAverse Mar 2020 #9
Is this Avenue 5? Unca Jim Mar 2020 #11
If it is, I have an idea. Dem2theMax Mar 2020 #15
These days such headlines are so... captain jack Mar 2020 #14

paleotn

(17,912 posts)
5. Ugh!
Fri Mar 6, 2020, 06:59 PM
Mar 2020

Just what we need. Bumbling tourist billionaires messing with the buttons and knobs on the ISS. Our tax dollars put the ISS in orbit to do science and space exploration, not to become an a play thing for birth lottery winners.

Dem2theMax

(9,651 posts)
6. Exactly.
Fri Mar 6, 2020, 07:01 PM
Mar 2020

I'm sure the real astronauts, you know, those men and women who have studied for years and years and years, can hardly wait to have a bunch of bumbling idiots floating around in the space station.

What could go wrong?

Massacure

(7,521 posts)
12. And NASA is also charging Axiom
Sun Mar 8, 2020, 10:51 PM
Mar 2020

Scott Manley doesn't give the exact figure, but other articles have mentioned that NASA is charging $35,000 per person per day. So NASA will get $1.1 million for that 8 day stay.

Dem2theMax

(9,651 posts)
15. If it is, I have an idea.
Mon Mar 9, 2020, 12:49 AM
Mar 2020

Send the GOP up. And then, instead of three years, let's make it 30 or 40 years. Problem solved!

captain jack

(316 posts)
14. These days such headlines are so...
Mon Mar 9, 2020, 12:13 AM
Mar 2020

"Fuck Martha Stewart. Martha's polishing the brass on the Titanic. It's all going down, man. So fuck off with your sofa units and Strinne green stripe patterns, [and your fucking private space flights!]

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»SpaceX announces deal to ...