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Nasa to open International Space Station to tourists | Nasa to open International Space Station to tourists |
(32 minutes later) | |
Nasa is to allow tourists to visit the International Space Station from 2020, priced at $35,000 (£27,500) per night. | Nasa is to allow tourists to visit the International Space Station from 2020, priced at $35,000 (£27,500) per night. |
The US space agency said it would open the orbiting station to tourism and other business ventures. | The US space agency said it would open the orbiting station to tourism and other business ventures. |
There will be up to two short private astronaut missions per year, said Robyn Gatens, the deputy director of the ISS. | There will be up to two short private astronaut missions per year, said Robyn Gatens, the deputy director of the ISS. |
Nasa said that private astronauts would be permitted to travel to the ISS for up to 30 days, travelling on US spacecraft. | Nasa said that private astronauts would be permitted to travel to the ISS for up to 30 days, travelling on US spacecraft. |
"Nasa is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as we've never done before," chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said in New York. | "Nasa is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as we've never done before," chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said in New York. |
Nasa said that private commercial entities would be responsible for determining crew composition and ensuring that the private astronauts meet the medical and training requirements for spaceflight. | Nasa said that private commercial entities would be responsible for determining crew composition and ensuring that the private astronauts meet the medical and training requirements for spaceflight. |
The two companies hired by Nasa are Elon Musk's SpaceX, which will use its Dragon capsule, and Boeing, which is building a spacecraft called the Starliner. | The two companies hired by Nasa are Elon Musk's SpaceX, which will use its Dragon capsule, and Boeing, which is building a spacecraft called the Starliner. |
These companies are likely to charge any private astronaut a similar "taxi fare" to what they intend to charge Nasa for its astronauts - close to $60m per flight. | |
Nasa had previously banned any commercial use of the space station and prohibited astronauts from taking part in for-profit research. | Nasa had previously banned any commercial use of the space station and prohibited astronauts from taking part in for-profit research. |
Nasa does not own the station however - it was built, beginning in 1998, with Russia, which has taken a more relaxed approach in recent decades to commerce. | Nasa does not own the station however - it was built, beginning in 1998, with Russia, which has taken a more relaxed approach in recent decades to commerce. |
In 2001, US businessman Dennis Tito became the first tourist to visit when he paid Russia around $20 million for a round trip. | In 2001, US businessman Dennis Tito became the first tourist to visit when he paid Russia around $20 million for a round trip. |
Nasa's announcement on Friday is part of a move towards full privatisation of the ISS. US President Donald Trump published a budget last year which called for the station to be defunded by the government by 2025. | Nasa's announcement on Friday is part of a move towards full privatisation of the ISS. US President Donald Trump published a budget last year which called for the station to be defunded by the government by 2025. |
The space agency recently announced that it planned to return to the moon by 2024, taking the first woman there and the first person in decades. | The space agency recently announced that it planned to return to the moon by 2024, taking the first woman there and the first person in decades. |