Photo: NASA via Youtube
NASA, a state-sponsored government agency, has never been keen on engaging in commercial activities, mostly because up until recently it was an uptight, almost militarized organization. But ever since the Commercial Crew program kicked off, NASA has seen what a private company view on things can do.
Back in September, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine let loose word of a possible tie-up between NASA astronauts and sponsors of the space program. A group apparently has even been tasked with setting up the framework that would give astronauts the chance to pursue suitable commercial endorsements “and other media opportunities.”
NASA has two things to gain from this. First, exposure, thanks to privately-sponsored missions and/or crew. Secondly, boosted by the media presence, an astronaut career might appeal to more kids than it currently does, providing the necessarily generations of future astronauts.
This month, The Washington Post says NASA is currently toying with the idea of space tourism.
Currently, there are some private companies working on the technology needed to make space travel safe for people who have no prior specialized training, the most prominent of which being SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic.
Aside for SpaceX, which plans to send its first customer on a trip to the Moon, the plans of most such companies are simple and straightforward: send to people to the edge of space for a few minutes worth of zero-G and cash those checks.
NASA, on the other hand, being one of the agencies involved with keeping the International Space Station up and running has an entirely different plan, the source says.
Citing a proposal made last week by a NASA advisory subcommittee, the agency intends on selling seats onboard the spaceship to take people to the ISS and back.
The idea is in its infancy, and its yet unclear how all will work or how much it will cost. For reference, Richard Branson is planning for years to charge Virgin Galactic tourists $250,000 for a round trip to low Earth orbit.
NASA has two things to gain from this. First, exposure, thanks to privately-sponsored missions and/or crew. Secondly, boosted by the media presence, an astronaut career might appeal to more kids than it currently does, providing the necessarily generations of future astronauts.
This month, The Washington Post says NASA is currently toying with the idea of space tourism.
Currently, there are some private companies working on the technology needed to make space travel safe for people who have no prior specialized training, the most prominent of which being SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic.
Aside for SpaceX, which plans to send its first customer on a trip to the Moon, the plans of most such companies are simple and straightforward: send to people to the edge of space for a few minutes worth of zero-G and cash those checks.
NASA, on the other hand, being one of the agencies involved with keeping the International Space Station up and running has an entirely different plan, the source says.
Citing a proposal made last week by a NASA advisory subcommittee, the agency intends on selling seats onboard the spaceship to take people to the ISS and back.
The idea is in its infancy, and its yet unclear how all will work or how much it will cost. For reference, Richard Branson is planning for years to charge Virgin Galactic tourists $250,000 for a round trip to low Earth orbit.
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