Could make for a good sixth year holiday.
NASA has announced that the International Space Station (ISS) will soon be open to commercial business as well as private astronauts.
The American space agency has said that private astronauts would be permitted to travel to the ISS for up to 30 days, travelling on US spacecraft.
Astronaut Christina Koch, who is currently one of the six astronauts based in the ISS, explained the purpose of NASA opening up the ISS to private citizens and companies:
“Enabling a vibrant economy in low-earth orbit has always been a driving element of the space station programme, and will make space more accessible to all Americans.”
“Commercial companies will play an important role both here, in low-earth orbit, and around the moon, working with NASA to test technologies, train astronauts and develop a sustainable human presence.”
.@Space_Station is open for commercial business! Watch @Astro_Christina talk about the steps we're taking to make our orbiting laboratory accessible to all Americans. pic.twitter.com/xLp2CpMC2x
— NASA (@NASA) June 7, 2019
Koch also noted that increasing private interaction with ISS will contribute to the US’ current goal of landing a woman on the moon by 2024.
It is the long-term goal of the US government for the International Space Station to be privately owned, and to continue without public funding as soon as 2025.
Still, might not be appropriate for a stag-do…
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