How Much Does a Trip to Space Cost? Suborbital and Orbital Ticket Prices in 2026

A trip to space currently costs at least $750,000 for a suborbital flight with Virgin Galactic, the only provider that publishes a recent price. Orbital trips to the International Space Station cost far more, but neither SpaceX nor Axiom Space publishes seat prices. The market is also smaller than a few years ago: Blue Origin paused its New Shepard flights in January 2026 for at least two years. This guide explains what is known about prices, what you actually get for the money, and how the options differ.

How much does a suborbital space flight cost?

A suborbital flight takes passengers above the edge of space for a few minutes of weightlessness and returns without completing an orbit. The difference is explained in our article on suborbital vs orbital flight.

Virgin Galactic: In its second quarter 2026 business update (August 12, 2026), Virgin Galactic said its "tranche of spaceflight expeditions priced at $750,000 was oversubscribed and booked out ahead of schedule". The company expects to release a new tranche "at higher price points this fall". Its first new spaceship is now expected to enter commercial service in February 2027, after a flight test phase starting in October 2026. A second spaceship is planned to join the fleet in March 2027.
Blue Origin: Blue Origin has never published a ticket price for New Shepard. On January 30, 2026, the company announced it will pause New Shepard flights for no less than two years to shift resources to its human lunar capabilities. Up to that point New Shepard had flown 38 times and carried 98 humans above the Kármán line.

In practice, this means that as of October 2026, no suborbital passenger flights are being sold at a published price that you can book for the near term. Virgin Galactic's $750,000 tranche is sold out, and the price of the next tranche has not been announced.

How much does an orbital trip to space cost?

Private orbital missions to the ISS currently fly on SpaceX's Crew Dragon, the same spacecraft that carries NASA crews. These missions are organized by companies such as Axiom Space under NASA's private astronaut mission program.

Seat prices: SpaceX and Axiom Space do not publish seat prices. Figures quoted in the media are not backed by published price lists.
NASA charges: NASA charges private astronaut missions for the use of ISS services and resources under its commercial use pricing policy. NASA states that detailed pricing is negotiated at the time of mission award and agreement.

If you want to understand how crews get to the station and back, see our explainer on the ISS crew and cargo supply chain.

What drives the price of a trip to space?

Altitude and duration: a suborbital flight lasts minutes; an orbital mission lasts days and requires far more energy, life support and a heat shield for reentry.
Vehicle reuse: both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin built reusable suborbital vehicles.
Flight rate: few flights per year mean high fixed costs per seat.
Training: orbital missions require months of training. See how astronauts train for spaceflight.
Station fees: visiting the ISS adds charges for station resources, crew time and supplies.

Where does space begin?

Ticket offers often refer to the Kármán line at 100 kilometers altitude, the boundary used by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Blue Origin, for example, counts the people New Shepard carried "above the Kármán line". Whether a flight counts as reaching space can therefore depend on which definition a provider uses. Before booking, check the planned maximum altitude in the contract, not only the marketing description.

How do bookings work?

Virgin Galactic sells seats in tranches at a set price; once a tranche is sold out, the next one opens at a new price. Future astronauts pay access fees before their flight: in the second quarter of 2026, Virgin Galactic reported revenue of $0.1 million from such fees. The company says the $750,000 tranche adds more than $50 million to expected future spaceflight revenue.

Before you sign a reservation, check:

the refund rules if the flight date slips;
the medical requirements and training schedule;
whether the price includes training, travel and accommodation;
the planned altitude and the time in weightlessness.

Alternative: fly an experiment instead of yourself

If your goal is research rather than the personal experience, sending a payload is far cheaper than sending a person. New Shepard, for example, launched more than 200 scientific and research payloads before the pause. Today, small experiments fly on rideshare missions, free-flying capsules or to the ISS. See our guide on returning cargo from space and compare cargo options on the Carrier Space cargo page.

Suborbital vs orbital: what do you get for the money?

Suborbital (Virgin Galactic): a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of Earth's curvature. Published price: $750,000 for the last tranche. Earliest commercial service: February 2027.
Suborbital (Blue Origin New Shepard): paused since January 2026 for at least two years. No published price.
Orbital (Crew Dragon, Axiom missions): days in orbit, possibly aboard the ISS. No published price; NASA station charges are negotiated per mission.

Carrier Space lists human spaceflight providers and vehicles on the passenger flight page, where you can compare what each system offers.

What comes after the ISS?

NASA plans to retire the ISS and buy services from commercial space stations instead. Several companies are developing stations that could host private visitors. Our overview of commercial space stations after the ISS covers the projects. Pricing for visits to these stations has not been published.

FAQ

How much does a trip to space cost per person?

The most recent published price is Virgin Galactic's $750,000 per seat for a suborbital flight. That tranche is sold out, and the next one will be priced higher according to the company. Orbital seat prices are not published.

How much did a Blue Origin flight cost?

Blue Origin never published a ticket price for New Shepard. Flights are paused since January 2026 for at least two years.

Is space tourism worth it?

That depends on what you value. A suborbital flight offers minutes of weightlessness for a six-figure price; an orbital mission offers days in space but requires months of training and costs far more. Neither option is currently bookable at a published price for flights in 2026.

When can I fly to space?

Virgin Galactic expects its first new spaceship to enter commercial service in February 2027. Blue Origin's suborbital flights are paused until at least 2028.

Sources

Cover image: The North Atlantic seen through the Cupola of the International Space Station, February 18, 2010. Credit: NASA (s130e009953).