SpaceX Sets Sights On ‘Starship Cruises’ With Possibility Of Future Space Tours
Image via NASA / SpaceX
Following the successful launch and return of the world’s first all-civilian space crew, SpaceX is gearing up for more space tours in the future.
“The amount of people who are approaching us through our sales and marketing portals has actually increased significantly,” Benji Reed, the company’s Senior Director of Human Spaceflight Programs, told Ars Technica.
SpaceX’s Starship—a much larger spacecraft than Inspiration4’s Dragon—could be a way for many more passengers to experience the once-in-a-lifetime trip to space. According to Futurism, the spacecraft could carry up to 100 individuals per trip.
“Starship will be able to carry a lot more people at once. So, you know, there’s really both options, and we have interest for both Dragons and Starships, which is pretty exciting,” explained Reed.
However, it’ll be a while before any space tours blast off onboard the Starship, as its launch system has yet to be ready. An orbital test flight of the spacecraft had been scheduled for the summer, but bureaucratic red tape could prevent it from taking off within the year.
More exclusive, smaller group tours could also be available for the elite, with Reed saying that SpaceX was also looking into building more Dragon capsules for tourism “if the demand is there.”
[via Futurism, cover image via NASA / SpaceX]
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