Space Tourism News Daily
1. Axiom Mission 4 Returns Safely to Earth
The all-civilian Axiom-4 crew splashed down in the Atlantic after a successful 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station.
Read more → Space.com
2. Virgin Galactic Lays Off Staff Amid Service Pause
Virgin Galactic announced job cuts in late July as it pauses space tourism flights until its new Delta spacecraft enters service in 2026.
Read more → FinalRoundAI
3. Blue Origin Launches NS-33 with Private Tourists
On June 29, Blue Origin flew its 13th human mission, NS-33, carrying six civilians including a married couple.
Read more → Wikipedia
4. Blue Origin’s NS-32 Carries Diverse Passenger Group
The May 31 NS-32 flight included the first Panamanian astronaut, a STEM teacher, and others on a 10-minute suborbital ride.
Read more → Wikipedia
5. ‘Mr. Intergalactic’ Predicts Space Tourism Boom
Roman Chiporukha of SpaceVIP discusses luxury experiences like edge-of-space capsule dining and predicts mass-market accessibility.
Read more → The Sun
6. Katy Perry’s Blue Origin Flight Sparks Backlash
Critics say her flight represents celebrity excess and undermines serious space exploration efforts.
Read more → Business
Insider
7. Environmental Concerns Mount Over Rocket Launches
Researchers warn that booming space tourism poses environmental risks, citing carbon soot and ozone depletion.
Read more → Mexico Business
News
8. Van Horn, Texas Evolves into Space Tourism Hub
An in-depth look at how Blue Origin transformed Van Horn from a quiet West Texas town into a launch center.
Read more → Houston Chronicle
Recent Crewed Suborbital Flights
Blue Origin NS‑31 — April 14, 2025
-
All‑female crew launched on New Shepard NS‑31: journalist Lauren Sánchez organized the mission, joined by Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Katy Perry, and Kerianne Flynn. It was the first all-female spaceflight since 1963 AP News+11Reddit+11spaceambition.substack.com+11Wikipedia+9Wikipedia+9AP News+9.
-
The 10‑minute flight reached the edge of space. While celebrated for symbolic significance, it drew heavy criticism for its celebrity focus and what many saw as a superficial portrayal of women in STEM The Guardian+1AP News+1.
Blue Origin NS‑32 — May 31, 2025
-
New Shepard mission carrying six passengers, including STEM teacher Aymette Medina Jorge, radiologist Dr. Gretchen Green, former ambassador Jaime Alemán, entrepreneur Paul Jeris, and aerospace exec Mark Rocket (the first New Zealander with Blue Origin) Wikipedia+1Space+1.
-
Mission lasted ~10 minutes, with significant media praise for its diverse crew composition Space+8Wikipedia+8Business Insider+8.
Blue Origin NS‑33 — June 29, 2025
-
Sixth crewed New Shepard flight in just 2½ months, delivering six passengers including married couple Allie and Carl Kuehner. Carl became Blue Origin astronaut #70 and the 750th human to reach space Wikipedia+1Space+1.
-
Standard ~10‑minute suborbital flight, booster and capsule both landed safely Space.
? Orbital Charter Experience
SpaceX Polar Flight — Early April 2025
-
Four privately chartered passengers orbited above the North and South Poles in a Dragon capsule, splashing down off Southern California.
-
Included a filmmaker, researcher, polar guide, and investor; first human flight to circumnavigate via the poles and first Pacific splashdown in over 50 years AP News.
? Industry Analysis & Commentary
Growing Momentum & Public Reach
-
CBS News reports nearly 120 civilians have now flown to the edge of space via private companies, with suborbital trips lasting ~11 minutes and ticket prices around $500,000—orbital trips costing upward of $200 million cbsnews.com.
Luxury Commercial Offerings
-
A premium agency, SpaceVIP, is selling capsule-based "dining experiences at the edge of space" starting at $495,000. Agency founder predicts space tourism will eventually follow the evolution of commercial aviation spaceperspective.com+3The Sun+3phys.org+3.
Environmental & Cultural Reactions
-
Celebrity-backed missions—like Perry’s flight—have drawn sharp backlash for being elitist and environmentally tone‑deaf. Critics labeled the spectacle as wasteful and out-of-touch The Guardian+3Business Insider+3The Scottish Sun+3.
-
Scotland’s first astronaut David Mackay defended such flights, arguing that witnessing Earth from space sparks climate consciousness among influential figures The Scottish Sun.
? Research & Trend Forecasting
-
A recent academic study introduced SpaceNet, an explainable‑AI model predicting interest in space tourism based on age, income, price sensitivity, and risk tolerance. The system separates demand into: no travel, suborbital, orbital, and lunar—achieving ~ROC‑AUC 0.82 arxiv.org.
✅ Overview Table
| Period | Operator | Mission | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | Blue Origin | NS‑31 | First all‑female flight since 1963; heavy public criticism |
| Apr 1–4, 2025 | SpaceX | Polar orbital | Four tourists flew over both poles; first Pacific splashdown |
| May 2025 | Blue Origin | NS‑32 | Diverse crew including educator and first Panamanian & Kiwi |
| Jun 2025 | Blue Origin | NS‑33 | Married couple duo; astronaut #70 and 750th person to reach space |
✔ Key Takeaways
-
Blue Origin remains dominant in suborbital tourism, with three major missions in April, May, and June and a cumulative 13 human flights by mid‑2025.
-
SpaceX has expanded the orbital passenger market, with chartered flights reaching beyond traditional routes—including polar trajectories.
-
Public response is divided, especially toward celebrity-couched flights, with critiques around privilege and climate impact versus supporters who highlight their potential educational and inspirational value.
-
AI tools and predictive studies are shaping industry direction by mapping consumer interest and segmenting demand across different experience tiers.
Let me know if you’d like deeper dives on specific individuals, statistics on pricing, public perception, sustainability efforts, or comparisons between companies.
Over the past couple of weeks, several significant developments have occurred in the space tourism industry:
Virgin Galactic Faces Potential Delisting
On January 16, 2025, Virgin Galactic received a notice from the New York Stock Exchange regarding potential delisting due to its average closing share price falling below $1 over 30 consecutive days, closing at 88 cents recently. The company has six months to address this issue, possibly through a "reverse stock split" to boost share value. Despite selling approximately 800 future flight tickets at up to $450,000 each, Virgin Galactic's stock has declined from over $59 in 2021 to a current market value of around $360 million. The company successfully launched its first commercial flight last summer.
Orbital Reef Progress
In December 2024, Orbital Reef, a space station project led by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Sierra Space, announced advancements toward becoming a commercial destination in low-Earth orbit, approximately 230 miles above Earth. Designed as a modular "mixed-use business park," the station aims to support scientific research, tourism, and commercial activities. Early concepts were revealed in 2021, with some parts expected to be operational by 2027 and fully functional by 2030. NASA has recently completed tests for the station's life support systems.
Space Perspective's Upcoming Flight
In October 2024, Sir Richard Branson announced plans to co-pilot Space Perspective's hydrogen space balloon, Spaceship Neptune, scheduled for its first crewed flight in 2025. Priced at $125,000 per seat, the six-hour journey will take passengers 20 miles above Earth, offering a plush cabin, fine dining, cocktails, and Wi-Fi. The flight requires no special physical fitness, and over 1,800 reservations have been made. Branson, an investor in Space Perspective, will be joined by founders Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter.
Blue Origin's 100th Female Space Traveler
In December 2024, Emily Calandrelli, known as "Space Gal" from her YouTube and Netflix shows, became the 100th woman to visit space during a Blue Origin flight. The 12-minute suborbital journey included five minutes in space, sponsored by 30 companies. Post-flight, Calandrelli faced online criticism for her emotional reaction, leading Blue Origin to remove the video due to harsh comments. She hopes that space travel will become more accessible and affordable in the next decade, viewing this period as a revolutionary era for space exploration.
These developments highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of the space tourism industry, with companies facing financial challenges, advancing commercial space station projects, planning innovative tourism experiences, and celebrating milestones in human spaceflight.
As of December 27, 2024, here are the latest developments concerning major space tourism companies:
Blue Origin
- FAA License for New Glenn Rocket: Blue Origin has secured a commercial space launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its New Glenn rocket. This approval permits orbital missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with plans for the reusable first stage to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. The inaugural mission will serve as a certification for the U.S. Space Force, positioning Blue Origin to compete for national security space missions alongside SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.
SpaceX
-
Potential $1 Trillion Valuation: Analysts project that SpaceX, currently valued at approximately $350 billion, may surpass Tesla's $1 trillion market value. This optimistic outlook is largely attributed to the rapid expansion of Starlink, SpaceX's broadband satellite network, which has significantly reduced launch costs through reusable rocket technology. Starlink's growing user base and potential for additional services, such as cellphone connectivity, contribute to this favorable financial forecast.
-
Defense Sector Collaboration: SpaceX is reportedly in discussions with companies like Palantir Technologies and Anduril Industries to form a consortium aimed at bidding on U.S. government contracts. This alliance seeks to challenge established defense contractors by leveraging AI-enabled autonomous technology, with formal announcements anticipated in the coming months.
Virgin Galactic
- Founder Withdraws Financial Support: Richard Branson has announced that he will cease further financial investment in Virgin Galactic. Having already contributed $1 billion to the venture, Branson believes the company possesses sufficient funds to continue operations without additional capital from him. This decision follows the bankruptcy of Virgin Orbit earlier in the year.
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the space tourism industry as companies navigate technological advancements, regulatory landscapes, and financial strategies.
Share
Print 