A group of four private astronauts arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on May 22, completing a journey from Cape Canaveral to the habitat orbiting 408 kilometers (254 miles) above the Earth.
Watch
The mission, managed by Axiom Space, is the second time that paying passengers have flown independently to the ISS. Its crew includes Axiom employee Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut acting as the mission commander, as well as John Shoffner, the former CEO of fiber optics maker Dura-Line, and two government astronauts from Saudi Arabia, Ali Al Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi. The latter is the first Arab woman in space.
Advertisem*nt
Getting to space has always been famously expensive, and that’s still the truth today; what’s changed in recent years is that it’s a commodity available for purchase. Past orbital space tourists relied on brokers to make one-off deals with Russia’s cash-strapped space program. With the debut of SpaceX’s crew Dragon spacecraft in 2020, NASA announced that it would welcome private passengers at the ISS if they paid for their room and board.
Advertisem*nt
Now, anyone with sufficient cash can hunt for one of the limited slots to head to orbit. Axiom hopes to fly about a twice a year, but NASA officials say they had trouble finding a window for this mission amid other upcoming activity at the station, including a cargo re-supply, a test flight of a new Boeing spacecraft, and the arrival of the next set of NASA astronauts.
Advertisem*nt
How much will such a trip set you back? At least $60 million—with an emphasis on “at least.” This table shows the publicly available data on how much a private mission might cost per astronaut.
Advertisem*nt
The real cost of flying to the ISS is much higher
But there’s much more to think about. For one, the cost per seat to ride on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is an estimate for NASA (pdf) from 2019, and it haslikely risen.
Advertisem*nt
Presumably, Axiom’s customers also cover the cost of Whitson’s flight, since NASA requires a professional astronaut chaperone onboard. That adds about $20 million to each paying passenger’s ride. Then there’s the question of how much Axiom is charging. Despite the high cost of the trip, the limited supply of seats suggests Axiom could charge deep-pocketed individuals and governments a decent fee for getting them to orbit. By the time everything adds up, the cost of a trip could reach toward $100 million a person.
NASA hopes to replace the aging ISS with privately operated space stations that can serve its needs in low-Earth orbit, while also attracting customers like space tourists, foreign governments, and private companies. Letting private companies visit the publicly funded lab aims to prove that there’s enough demand for these services to attract sizable private investment.
Advertisem*nt
Judging by Axiom’s flight plans and its goal of launching a new module to the ISS in 2025—alongside the other companies plotting to launch their own orbital habitats—NASA’s strategy is working so far.
As a seasoned space enthusiast with a deep understanding of the space industry, I've closely followed recent developments and milestones, including the noteworthy achievement of a group of four private astronauts arriving at the International Space Station (ISS) on May 22, led by Axiom Space. My expertise in this field extends to the nuances of private space travel, the companies involved, and the evolving landscape of commercial space exploration.
Let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the article:
-
Private Astronaut Mission to ISS:
- The article discusses a mission managed by Axiom Space, involving a crew of four private astronauts, including Axiom employee Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut serving as the mission commander, John Shoffner (former CEO of Dura-Line), and two government astronauts from Saudi Arabia, Ali Al Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Arab woman in space.
-
Evolution of Space Travel Accessibility:
- Historically, space travel has been expensive, but recent years have seen a shift. The article highlights the changing landscape, emphasizing that space travel has become a commodity available for purchase. SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, introduced in 2020, played a crucial role in opening up opportunities for private passengers to visit the ISS.
-
Cost of Private Space Travel:
- The article mentions the significant cost associated with private space travel, indicating that individuals with sufficient financial resources can now secure limited slots for orbital flights. The estimated cost for such a trip is at least $60 million per astronaut, with potential additional costs.
-
Axiom's Mission Frequency and Challenges:
- Axiom Space aims to conduct such private missions approximately twice a year. However, NASA officials note challenges in scheduling these missions due to other activities at the ISS, such as cargo re-supply, test flights of new spacecraft, and the arrival of NASA astronauts.
-
Financial Dynamics and Future of ISS:
- The article touches upon the financial aspects, speculating that the real cost of flying to the ISS is likely higher than the publicly available estimates. It discusses the potential fees charged by Axiom to cover costs and suggests that the overall cost of a trip could reach around $100 million per person.
-
NASA's Strategy and Privatization of Low-Earth Orbit:
- NASA's strategy involves transitioning from the ISS to privately operated space stations that can attract various customers, including space tourists, foreign governments, and private companies. Axiom's plans, including launching a new module to the ISS in 2025, align with NASA's goal of proving there is sufficient demand for private investment in space services.
In summary, my comprehensive knowledge of the space industry allows me to provide valuable insights into the recent private astronaut mission, the evolving landscape of space travel, and the financial dynamics shaping the future of commercial space exploration.
