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

How to See the 2021 Total Solar Eclipse in Antarctica

How to See the 2021 Total Solar Eclipse in Antarctica

The December event will be the continent’s last total solar eclipse for nearly 20 years.
Scientists Have Discovered an Ancient ‘Super-Earth’ in Our Galaxy

Scientists Have Discovered an Ancient ‘Super-Earth’ in Our Galaxy

The planet is twice the size of ours — and likely three times as old.
Scientists Have Been Aging Wine in Space — and 12 Bottles Are Back on Earth and Ready to Drink

Scientists Have Been Aging Wine in Space — and 12 Bottles Are Back on Earth and Ready to Drink

Cheers!  
NASA Releases Stunning New Photos of Mars’ ‘Grand Canyon’

NASA Releases Stunning New Photos of Mars’ ‘Grand Canyon’

See the incredible new images of Valles Marineris, said to be the largest canyon in the solar system.
NASA Shares Its 20 Favorite Images of Earth Taken by Astronauts Last Year

NASA Shares Its 20 Favorite Images of Earth Taken by Astronauts Last Year

Here's what our planet looked like from space during one of the most tumultuous years on record.
Hear What Parts of Space Actually Sound Like, According to NASA

Hear What Parts of Space Actually Sound Like, According to NASA

These haunting melodies were creating use complicated data sets from NASA.

More Space Travel + Astronomy

2021 Is Going to Be a Big Year in Space — Here’s What to Watch for This Year

2021 Is Going to Be a Big Year in Space — Here’s What to Watch for This Year

Mark your calendars — you won’t want to miss these space events.
2021 Astronomical Calendar: Full Moons, Meteor Showers, and Eclipses to Watch for This Year

2021 Astronomical Calendar: Full Moons, Meteor Showers, and Eclipses to Watch for This Year

This 2021 astronomical calendar has every full moon, meteor shower, and eclipse to look forward to this year.
Mysterious Radio Signal From a Nearby Star Leads Scientists to Investigate Alien Life

Mysterious Radio Signal From a Nearby Star Leads Scientists to Investigate Alien Life

The ‘Full Cold Moon’ Is the Final Full Moon of 2020 — Here's How to See It

The ‘Full Cold Moon’ Is the Final Full Moon of 2020 — Here's How to See It

NASA Just Shared Never-before-seen Space Images in Honor of Hubble's 30th Anniversary

NASA Just Shared Never-before-seen Space Images in Honor of Hubble's 30th Anniversary

Jupiter and Saturn Will Be the Closest They've Been in 800 Years — How to See the 'Christmas Star' This December

Jupiter and Saturn Will Be the Closest They've Been in 800 Years — How to See the 'Christmas Star' This December

The Northern Lights Could Make a Rare Appearance Over Parts of the U.S. This Week

The northern lights may be visible in the U.S. tonight and Thursday, from the Pacific Northwest to New England.

All Space Travel and Astronomy

This Month Will Bring 2020's Biggest Meteor Shower, a Solar Eclipse, and the Best 'Kissing Planets' in 794 Years

This Month Will Bring 2020's Biggest Meteor Shower, a Solar Eclipse, and the Best 'Kissing Planets' in 794 Years

How to See a Frosty Moon Eclipse and a Gorgeous Full Moonrise Next Week

How to See a Frosty Moon Eclipse and a Gorgeous Full Moonrise Next Week

Scientists Just Discovered Outer Space Isn’t Pitch Black

Scientists Just Discovered Outer Space Isn’t Pitch Black

SpaceX Finally Launches Full NASA Crew to International Space Station Following Two Previous Setbacks

SpaceX Finally Launches Full NASA Crew to International Space Station Following Two Previous Setbacks

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You Could Own the First Selfie in Space and the Only Image of Neil Armstrong on the Moon

NASA Certifies SpaceX to Fly Astronauts on Crew Dragon Spaceship Ahead of Saturday Launch

NASA Certifies SpaceX to Fly Astronauts on Crew Dragon Spaceship Ahead of Saturday Launch

Scientists Discover a Planet Where It Rains Rocks and Its Oceans Are Literally Lava

Scientists Discover a Planet Where It Rains Rocks and Its Oceans Are Literally Lava

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10 Best National Parks in the U.S. for Stargazing

About 300 Million Habitable Planets Exist in the Galaxy, According to NASA

About 300 Million Habitable Planets Exist in the Galaxy, According to NASA

You Might See a Fireball in the Sky This Week — but Don't Worry, It's Just the Taurid Meteor Shower

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The Leonid Meteor Shower Will Bring Shooting Stars This November — How and When to See It

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NASA and SpaceX Announce New Date to Launch Astronauts to the International Space Station

New NASA Findings Confirm Presence of Water on the Moon

New NASA Findings Confirm Presence of Water on the Moon

British Supermarket Sends a Single Chicken Nugget to Space

British Supermarket Sends a Single Chicken Nugget to Space

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

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

How to Watch the Draconid Meteor Shower This Weekend

How to Watch the Draconid Meteor Shower This Weekend

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

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 Best Places to Go Stargazing Around the World

The Best Places to Go Stargazing Around the World

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

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

This New Reality Show Wants to Send You to Space for 10 Days

This New Reality Show Wants to Send You to Space for 10 Days

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