Russia to Fly Two Space Tourists to the ISS in 2021

Since 2001, Russia has flown only seven space tourists, but that number is about to increase shortly. Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency has just inked a deal with Space Adventures to fly two space tourists to the International Space Station in late 2021. The lucky participants will fly on board a familiar Soyuz spacecraft for a short-term trip. So far the participants are unnamed, but it’s safe to assume they’ll have deep pockets.

Roscosmos explained that motivation behind taking these tourists to space is to help fund Russia’s spaceflight industry, including new Soyuz vehicles in the future. Although publicity is good — this new deal is much more about supporting future missions than anything else.

However, by 2021 there will be different circumstances in place. For instance, Space tourism won’t be such a novel concept like it is now because companies such as Virgin Galactic should already have brought tourists into space by then.

In 2000s, Space Adventures, the sole operator that actually managed to send clients to space, launched wealthy travelers actively by collaborating on launches with Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. Starting in 2005, Space Adventures was sending at least one tourist each year. Yet in the last decade, there has not been a single space tourist, although the demands still high.

The main reason for that is NASA. In 2011, NASA cancelled its shuttle program: it was too dangerous and too expensive. Since then, the agency has had no other option for sending American astronauts to space but Roscosmos. NASA pays Roscosmos around $70 million for a one-way ticket to space.

NASA has been dreaming of sending astronauts from American soil again for a long time. The current plan relies on private companies: SpaceX and Boeing are supposed to develop their commercial flights programs and become NASA’s space taxis, freeing seats for tourists on Roscosmos flights.

Picture credit: Roscosmos

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