For the first time in 12 years tourists are in space

[Kevin_Hall]

On the December, 8 Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano have docked to the ISS module “Search". They were from Baikonur Cosmodrome where Yuri Gagarin’s first ever flight to space had taken place in 1961. Also it’s known that they are going to make a first ever made painting using brushes in space. On the ISS, they will have access to both the Russian and American segments of the ISS. The return of the crew is scheduled for December 20.

https://spaceadventures.com/ms-20/
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/08/dream-come-true-japanese-billionaire-blasts-off-for-iss

[swansont]

Did you mean 12 weeks?

Weren't there tourists in space (briefly) back in October? I know Shatner played Captain Kirk, but he still counts as a tourist.

[Kevin_Hall]

On 12/10/2021 at 8:41 PM, swansont said:

Did you mean 12 weeks?

Weren't there tourists in space (briefly) back in October? I know Shatner played Captain Kirk, but he still counts as a tourist.

They went for the suborbital flight, while Yusaku and Yozo are on the orbit now. They are spending 12 days there https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/science/yusaku-maezawa-space-station.html

 

Edited December 17, 2021 by Kevin_Hall

[swansont]

1 hour ago, Kevin_Hall said:

They went for the suborbital flight

…in space 

[Ken Fabian]

For the first time in 12 years tourists are in orbit (?). But I find little to be excited about - it doesn't come out as a demonstration of how great space is, rather it is a demonstration of the wealth and resources and capabilities Earth has - to be able to do something so extravagantly self-indulgent.