On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin stepped onto the Sea of Tranquility, becoming the first humans to grace the moon. Shortly thereafter, the Soviets, plagued by system failures of their Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft, abandoned all hope of doing the same. Now the Russians may get to the moon after all, at least if the Arlington, Virginia, firm Space Adventures has its way—and you can tag along (if you start routinely winning the lottery). The company, which has sent two wealthy businessmen, Dennis Tito and Mark Shuttleworth, to the International Space Station atop Russian rockets, has announced a joint venture with the Russian Federal Space Agency (FSA) to embark one cosmonaut and two billionaires on a trip around the moon in an upgraded Soyuz craft by 2010. The ticket price: $100 million per person. The 8- to 15-day mission, which would mark the first time humans have ventured beyond Earth's orbit since the last Apollo mission in 1972, might include a stop at the ISS after launching from Kazakhstan.

Then the crew would rendezvous with a rocket already waiting in orbit to blast toward the moon. Traveling at more than 24,000 miles an hour, the Soyuz would use the moon's gravity to slingshot around to the farside and then return home. If the flight is a success, the company will launch increasingly more ambitious missions, says Space Adventures president and CEO Eric Anderson. "Eventually we'll land on the moon," he predicts.

View: Full Article | Source: Popular Science

tourist and business are most likely to open space travel. which is good but at 100 million...wow!

I agree, though I "Theorize" Business/Industry will be the driving force, REAL tourism will follow.

I also "Theorize" that until a craft capable of taking off, achieving orbit, and returning economically is developed, space tourism will remain just a dream for the “Average” person.

I agree, government agencies wont be the real push behind space travel. Business and Industry will eventually lead the way but sadly in my lifetime unless I win the lottery numerous times I wont get to experience space travel.

ok. there is no air in space...... right ?
so why is the american flag swaying as if it is was in the wind? is there an explanation for that ? and if no....We have never been on the moon and two rich business guys will be the first!

Do some research. In the conspiracy seciton, look for fake moon landing. Every objection has been overcome. We went to the moon.

freakin' hell, its Majestic 12 all over again...except this time, they know the poor aren't leaving this planet any time soon

ROBOT: THATS JUST TOO *BLEEPIN* MUCH FOR A SPACE TOUR, WHEN OTHER EXTRATERRESTRIALS, WHOM I WILL REFRAIN FROM EXPLAINING, DO IT FOR FREE.

but thats because othe rplanets have realized that money isn't nessicary when you can have a commune..

i really hope we don't return till we have some close-ups of those glass domes, and ramps on the moon..what about that giant star of david?...

NASA's time is over. Spaceship One proved that the technology that NASA uses is inferior (bought from the cheapest bidder for many items) to that of more talented and open minded engineers that don't play the political bulls^&* that NASA does. NASA is the epitome of bureaucracy. While I grant that NASA has done some worthwhile things during it's history, one can only wonder if a little corporate competition (sprinkled with a little greed) would have not only given a safer, better, more inexpensive product, but faster overall results as well. (Not to mention the probable explorative co-operation between the companies as space explorative entities for profit, the ESA and the USSR as well, which didn't happen due the politicizing of space by cold-war NASA)

I read at one time that the U.S. government is run by committee . And the definition of Commitee is a "Many headed creature with no BRAINS". Over the years I have seen NASA programs start with good Ideas , spend Millions on Research and Development , and the have a New Political Party come in and Cancel the programs.
Private Industry can not Afford to do this. They must bring an Idea to fruition , make a profit , then up grade the procedures to save operating costs.
In 20 to 40 years we will have in Orbit Hotels and Casino Gambling!
Because there is money to be made from it!
In My Opinion!

it would be kinda hard to roll dice in zero gravity though....

That is about the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
The fuel used for Spaceship One is hydrogen peroxide. It was used in many early rocket designs, especially with the Germans, and was abandoned as a viable fuel source for serious space travel. Sure, it works, but has severe limitations.
The fuel sources used by NASA, Russia, Japan, China and the European space agency are far greater in their ability. This is a chemical fact, believe it or not.

Furthermore, Spaceship One did not have to reenter Earth's atmosphere. It went to the "edge" of space but not very far beyond. If it did, on its return it would have burned up. Special technology(i.e. thermal tiles and thermal blankets) is required to prevent a spacecraft from incinerating during return.

NASA technology is the best-of-the best, and highly regarded amongst all nations of the earth.

The feather mode on SpaceShipOne creates high drag to stop heat build up like we have on nasa's shuttle.

This feather mode slows down re-entry speed into the atmosphere and there is obviously less heat build up. If feather mode failed then SpaceShipOne would burn up and/or break apart.