So you want to go to space

But how much is the ticket?!? I hear if you try to buy it on a Tuesday at 2am you will get a GREAT fare! Alright all jokes aside space travel is becoming available to regular citizens, well maybe regular isn’t the right word, wealthy citizens. But just how wealthy do you need to be? How many banks should you plan on robbing before you pack your bags?

Well it depends on where you are going.

Do you want to go on a spaceplane? This is at about 60 miles above the Earth’s surface.
If Virgin Galactic does continue with SpaceShipTwo they had set their cost at $250,000 or about 6 bank robberies. (Since the crash of an earlier version of SpaceShipTwo (due to pilot error) they are instead shifting their time and money towards practical launchers. HOW LAME!!)
If XCOR finishes up the Lynx they have set their ticket cost at $100,000 or 3 bank robberies.

But what about a trip to the International Space Station (ISS)? Well I have good news for you because private citizens have already paid for trips there. No waiting around for a spaceplane to be built.
Space Adventures has put people in space since 2001. They make the travel arrangements for civilians to ride the Russian Soyuz capsule to the space station. The cost is over $20 million or 435 bank robberies.

How about walking in space?
For an extra $15 million (327 bank robberies) Space Adventures will organize for you to do a spacewalk during your stay on the ISS.

If this all seems a little too pricey for you maybe you should think about the space simulators!!
Zero Gravity Corporation sells tickets on NASA’s “Vomit Comet” (a plane that makes you feel like you are weightless) for $136,000 BUT it is for you and 35 of your closest friends! Talk about a party!!! They do offer for you to pay an individual price but that all is on a case by case business. However if you are a struggling student I have some good news for you. NASA offers undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct experiments on reduced gravity flights. They also have flights for educators too so definitely check out their programs!!