Space Travel and Astronomy

Space exploration has captured the world’s interest ever since the famous Space Race between the Soviet Union and the U.S. during the Cold War, which culminated in the U.S. landing the first humans on the moon in 1969. In fact, it was only mere decades ago that the idea of space tourism—not just for astronauts and scientific research but for leisure and recreation—was the stuff of science fiction: Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Today, space travel for the common man is no longer a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when,’ thanks to the ingenuity and imagination of self-funded business magnates with an eye on the sky.The space tourism raceA few major players have emerged in the race towards the first commercial flights to space. Prototypes from Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space line are readying to take its first passengers on a suborbital space flight to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. Meanwhile, SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer founded by Tesla Motors CEO and investor Elon Musk, has begun launching rockets into orbit, with the ambitious end goal of enabling human colonization on Mars.Of course, the price of airfare to space is still well beyond most anyone’s means—a single seat on Virgin Galactic will put you out of $250,000. Luckily, the rest of us can still gaze upon the worlds beyond ours from our backyards. Stargazing remains a beloved nightly pastime, where views of phenomena like the northern lights and lunar eclipses can be seen for free with just the naked eye.Space is the tourism industry’s next frontier, and Travel + Leisure remains on the pulse of every technological achievement and development made towards it becoming a reality. From the gear passengers will wear to the logistics of getting on a flight, check back here for the latest news and updates.

Most Recent

British Supermarket Sends a Single Chicken Nugget to Space

British Supermarket Sends a Single Chicken Nugget to Space

It's unclear if the chicken nugget underwent special training before its mission.
That Asteroid Heading Into Earth’s Orbit May Actually Be an Old Rocket From 1966

That Asteroid Heading Into Earth’s Orbit May Actually Be an Old Rocket From 1966

The unidentified flying object detected by a telescope in Hawaii last month might turn out to be a piece of space junk rather than an asteroid.
A Rare Blue Moon Will Light Up the Sky on Halloween This Year

A Rare Blue Moon Will Light Up the Sky on Halloween This Year

A rare blue moon will rise on Halloween this year — here's what to expect.
Mercury Is in Retrograde Starting This Week — and It Lasts Until Election Day

Mercury Is in Retrograde Starting This Week — and It Lasts Until Election Day

Mercury is in retrograde starting this week — joining three other planets.
The Best Places to Go Stargazing Around the World

The Best Places to Go Stargazing Around the World

Dark skies and bright stars are the main attraction at the top stargazing spots around the world.
How to Watch the Draconid Meteor Shower This Weekend

How to Watch the Draconid Meteor Shower This Weekend

Here’s how to see some shooting stars this weekend.

More Space Travel + Astronomy

Mars to Make Its Closest Approach to Earth Until 2035 — Here’s How to See It

Mars to Make Its Closest Approach to Earth Until 2035 — Here’s How to See It

The Close Approach happens every two years, but Tuesday's encounter at 38.6 million miles away will be the closest to Earth that Mars gets until 2035.
NASA Is Launching a Rocket Toward the Space Station Tonight and You May Be Able to Spot It

NASA Is Launching a Rocket Toward the Space Station Tonight and You May Be Able to Spot It

The mission was originally slated for Oct. 1 but has been postponed.
The Best National Park Adventure for Every Zodiac Sign

The Best National Park Adventure for Every Zodiac Sign

The Orionid Meteor Shower Will Light Up the Sky With Shooting Stars This October — Here's How to See It

The Orionid Meteor Shower Will Light Up the Sky With Shooting Stars This October — Here's How to See It

NASA Is Launching a $23 Million Dollar Toilet to Space This Week

NASA Is Launching a $23 Million Dollar Toilet to Space This Week

The Northern Lights May Be Visible Over Parts of the US Tonight — Here's How to Spot Them

The Northern Lights May Be Visible Over Parts of the U.S. Tonight — Here's How to Spot Them

NASA Plans to Land the First Woman on the Moon in 2024

The Artemis program will get her there in 2024.

All Space Travel and Astronomy

A Collision in Space Caused a Black Hole 142 Times Bigger Than the Sun

A Collision in Space Caused a Black Hole 142 Times Bigger Than the Sun

See the Solar Eclipse From a Helicopter and Shooting Stars From a Hot Tub on the Same Day

See the Solar Eclipse From a Helicopter and Shooting Stars From a Hot Tub on the Same Day

How to See the Celestial Events, Rocket Launches, and More Happening in September

How to See the Celestial Events, Rocket Launches, and More Happening in September

Here’s What Actually Happens When You Travel at the Speed of Light, According to NASA

Here’s What Actually Happens When You Travel at the Speed of Light, According to NASA

NASA Says an Asteroid Is Projected to Head Towards Earth a Day Before the Election

NASA Says an Asteroid Is Projected to Head Towards Earth a Day Before the Election

These Stargazing Tips Will Help You See Stars and Constellations From Your Backyard

These Stargazing Tips Will Help You See Stars and Constellations From Your Backyard

A Car-sized Asteroid Flew Within 1,830 Miles of Earth — and Astronomers Had No Idea It Was Coming

A Car-sized Asteroid Flew Within 1,830 Miles of Earth — and Astronomers Had No Idea It Was Coming

See the International Space Station Like Never Before With This Photo Book Created by an Astronaut and Photographer

See the International Space Station Like Never Before With This Photo Book Created by an Astronaut and Photographer

SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Prototype That Could Enable Hypersonic Travel to the Moon and Mars

SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Prototype That Could Enable Hypersonic Travel to the Moon and Mars

You Don’t Have to Go to Mars to See the Perseverance Rover — Kennedy Space Center Has an Exact Replica

You Don’t Have to Go to Mars to See the Perseverance Rover — Kennedy Space Center Has an Exact Replica

NASA Astronaut Bob Behnken Describes Historic Landing in SpaceX Spacecraft: ‘It Felt Like We Were Inside of an Animal’

NASA Astronaut Bob Behnken Describes Historic Landing in SpaceX Spacecraft: ‘It Felt Like We Were Inside of an Animal’

NASA's Perseverance Rover Successfully Takes Off on New Mission to Mars

NASA's Perseverance Rover Successfully Takes Off on New Mission to Mars

A Piece of Mars that Ended Up on Earth Will Return to Its Home Planet Thanks to NASA Rover

A Piece of Mars that Ended Up on Earth Will Return to Its Home Planet Thanks to NASA Rover

Virgin Galactic Teams Up With Rolls-Royce to Build a Supersonic Plane — Get a Sneak Peek

Virgin Galactic Teams Up With Rolls-Royce to Build a Supersonic Plane — Get a Sneak Peek

Stunning Nebula Thousands of Lightyears Away Looks Like a Psychedelic Space Butterfly

Stunning Nebula Thousands of Lightyears Away Looks Like a Psychedelic Space Butterfly

NASA Astronauts Splash Down Near Florida in SpaceX Crew Dragon, Completing Historic Mission

NASA Astronauts Splash Down Near Florida in SpaceX Crew Dragon, Completing Historic Mission

13 Things Space Tourists Should Know Before Traveling to Space, According to Astronauts

13 Things Space Tourists Should Know Before Traveling to Space, According to Astronauts

Watch NASA Astronauts Return to Earth in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon This Weekend

Watch NASA Astronauts Return to Earth in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon This Weekend

The Perseid Meteor Shower Will Bring the Best Shooting Stars of the Year — Here’s When to Look

The Perseid Meteor Shower Will Bring the Best Shooting Stars of the Year — Here’s When to Look

10th Grade Girls Discover Asteroid Nearing Earth While Participating in a Space India and NASA School Project

10th Grade Girls Discover Asteroid Nearing Earth While Participating in a Space India and NASA School Project

Virgin Galactic Reveals Incredible Design for Its Spaceship — See Inside

Virgin Galactic Reveals Incredible Design for Its Spaceship — See Inside

Two Meteor Showers Will Peak This Week — Here's How to Spot a Shooting Star

Two Meteor Showers Will Peak This Week — Here's How to Spot a Shooting Star

A Once-in-a-lifetime Comet Was the Backdrop for These Couples' Engagements

A Once-in-a-lifetime Comet Was the Backdrop for These Couples' Engagements

All the Meteor Showers, Astronaut Launches, and Celestial Events Happening This August

All the Meteor Showers, Astronaut Launches, and Celestial Events Happening This August

Spacecraft Launched by NASA, ESA Sends Back the Closest-ever Images of the Sun

Spacecraft Launched by NASA, ESA Sends Back the Closest-ever Images of the Sun

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