4 Exciting Ways to Explore Outer Space Without Leaving Earth

The space race of the 1950s and 1960s was an exhilarating chapter in human history, but we’re now living in one of the most dynamic eras of space exploration and human spaceflight. Keeping up with the latest developments feels nearly impossible, as headlines continue to highlight new Mars missions, space telescopes, and groundbreaking astronomical discoveries – all eagerly followed by the public.

We’re on the verge of a significant breakthrough in space exploration: the era of commercial spaceflight, often referred to as space tourism. However, this revolution is mainly fueled by billionaires and private enterprises, with tickets mostly purchased by the ultra-rich — for example, a seat on Virgin Galactic costs $250,000 for a journey into space. Additionally, in 2019, NASA announced that private citizens could fly to the International Space Station (ISS), with a stay there priced at $35,000 per night and the journey itself estimated at a staggering $50 million.

While we're still waiting for prices to drop, there are still exciting ways to experience space tourism on Earth. These earthly experiences capture the essence of space travel, all while staying within the budget that many people set aside for other "bucket list" adventures, like visiting Antarctica.

1. Try a Zero-G Flight

Gravity is one of the few consistent forces on Earth. Our understanding of gravity here shapes how we think about it on other planets. However, the sensation of gravity differs depending on where you are. In space, gravity is absent (zero G), while places like Mars have only a third of Earth's gravity, and the moon has just one-sixth. To give you a taste of these differences, two companies offer "zero-G" flights.

Companies such as American Zero-G and European-based AirZeroG use modified planes to replicate various gravitational forces through parabolic flights. These flights include maneuvers that simulate the gravity of Mars, the Moon, and even zero gravity. Although it’s not truly zero gravity, it's more like weightlessness as you fall back toward Earth – but don’t dwell on that too much, it’s a strange sensation to process!

The price for Zero-G flights ranges between $6,700 and $9,500, with trips available in different locations throughout the year.

2. Explore Mars in Spain

Curious about what life on Mars would really be like? Astroland offers a chance to find out. As you might expect, this is a more demanding journey – both physically and mentally. Astroland operates in a similar fashion to NASA's HI-SEAS program, but it is designed for a broader group of tourists. The company behind Astroland is located in Spain, opening up space tourism to a wider European audience.

The core experience at Astroland is Ares Station, a lifelike habitat set inside a cave designed to mimic one possible Martian settlement plan. While details on how to become part of an Astroland mission are still scarce, the general concept is that participants pay to join a team. Once selected, you'll undergo extensive training to determine your role, and then you'll spend time living and working full-time in Ares Station – this includes conducting research and gathering data on the psychological effects of isolation.

The initial cost for participating in an Astroland mission was reported to be around 6,000 euros ($7,000), covering a month of training plus a three-day, three-night stay at Ares Station.

3. Attend Space Camp

If you'd prefer to stay grounded on Earth but still want to experience a taste of outer space, there's no better place than space camp. Famously featured in the 1980s film "Space Camp," children have been flocking to the Huntsville, Alabama camp for generations. There’s even a version for adults – whether they attended as kids or never had the chance to go.

The weekend-long Adult Astronaut Training program offers adults a hands-on opportunity to explore planetary science, orbital mechanics, and past, present, and future NASA missions. Space Camp takes place at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, which is part of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. All activities are designed with NASA's actual missions in mind, meaning you can try piloting the Orion Capsule, participate in mission control simulations, and even take a "spacewalk" to work on modules of the International Space Station. Additionally, you can enhance your experience with astronaut training in an underwater astronaut program before or after your adult space camp adventure!

The cost for Space Camp ranges from $199 to $299 per person, while the underwater astronaut program costs an additional $150 per person.

4. Train Like an Astronaut in Star City

You can train just like real astronauts and cosmonauts by signing up for astronaut training with Space Adventures, a company that offers space tourism experiences, from observing rocket launches in Kazakhstan to even sending tourists to the International Space Station.

Space Adventures offers spaceflight training in Star City, Russia, just outside Moscow. Here, participants get to practice piloting a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in a simulator, undergo spacewalk training, and experience the powerful forces of launch and landing in a centrifuge. This training is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Russian space program, Roscosmos, offering a perspective distinct from NASA’s.

Space Adventures provides customized Spaceflight Training, with prices available upon request.