If you ’ve ever want to see the International Space Station , your hazard is add up presently — assuming you have a few million set away . Recently , NASAannounced that this orbiting outpost will be open to private citizen start in 2020 .
However , it wo n’t be cheap . harmonize toThe Denver Post , each trip could last up to 30 days , and NASA estimates the cost of a round trip at $ 58 million , as well as an additional $ 35,000 charge per night . And , it ’s not just for kicks — you ask to have a mission of your own . The distance delegacy is allow for companies that want to conduct commercial-grade or marketing work to send employee to the ISS as long as they meet one of the three requirements :
The quad station had a visitor back in 2001 — Californian businessmanDennis Titobecame history ’s first space tourist when he spent a calendar week aboard the ISS with two Russian cosmonauts who take on him out there on a Russian spacecraft — but this would be a first for NASA . The agency was opposed to education and fly with Tito back in 2001 ; at the time , NASA administrator Daniel Goldinsaid , " Space is life-threatening . It ’s not a joyride . Space is not about egos . "
Now , NASA is ready to start the shuttle doors to individual citizen . In addition to U.S. citizen , those from other nation are eligible to travel as long as they aviate on a U.S.-operated rocket . These prosperous private astronaut will have to go through the same aesculapian checks , physical training , and certification procedures as crowd members before move — a physical process that could take up totwo year .
Along with this exciting tidings , NASA has bigger plans in mind . They are considering the possibility of a private sector society finally take control of the place and paying for its expensive upkeep . NASA has yet to announce when this transition would take place , but say in astatementthat the " ultimate goal in low - Earth compass is to spouse with industry to achieve a unassailable ecosystem in which NASA is one of many customers purchasing service and capableness at down in the mouth monetary value . "
In summation , they go for that the revenue will assist in the operational price for NASA ’s Artemis program , which is focused on get off astronauts — admit the first woman — to the Moon by 2024 .
[ h / tThe Denver Post ]
