Axiom Space – Interplanetary.tv

Where is the democratization of Space Tourism going in 2025 (Space Tech)

Space tourism involves traveling to space for recreational, leisure, or business purposes, typically involving paying a fee to travel aboard spacecraft designed for this purpose. Early commercial concepts emerged in the mid-20th century, with milestones such as Dennis Tito becoming the first self-funded space tourist in 2001, Mark Shuttleworth becoming the first African in space, and SpaceShipOne winning the Ansari X Prize in 2004. Companies like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX are pioneering commercial space tourism, expanding access beyond government astronauts to private individuals.

Private Space News (9-13 June)

The major private companies offering space tourism services in 2025 include SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic. SpaceX leads in orbital space tourism with its Starship program, offering multi-day missions and lunar flybys. Blue Origin specializes in suborbital tourism with its New Shepard vehicle, providing automated flights with large windows for Earth viewing. Virgin Galactic operates suborbital flights using SpaceShipTwo and is developing “Delta-class” spaceplanes for enhanced experiences. Over 10 companies are entering the market, with suborbital tourism dominating and orbital demand expected to rise by 2030.

SpaceX Ax-4 launch postponed: propellant leak (Space News)

SpaceX’s Ax-4 mission, carrying four private astronauts to the International Space Station, has been postponed due to technical issues. The launch was initially delayed due to a LOx propellant leak in the Falcon 9 rocket and a new air pressure leak in the Russian segment.

Meet Axiom-4 Pilot Shubanshu Shukla (Space People)

Axiom Space is set to launch the first Indian astronaut to orbit since 1984, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, on the Ax-4 mission. The four-person mission will conduct research and tech demonstrations aboard the ISS for 14 days, with contributions from over 30 countries.

Astronauts Making Pizza on the ISS (Space People)

Pizza-making on the International Space Station (ISS) has become a unique culinary experience, with astronauts gathering to prepare and share their personal pizzas. The process involves securing ingredients, assembling the pizza, and baking it in a special oven. NASA is exploring 3D food printing technology for future missions.