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NASA Wins 6 Webby Awards, 8 Webby People’s Voice Awards

NASA’s CloudSat Ends Mission Peering Into the Heart of Clouds

Hubble Celebrates 34th Anniversary with a Look at the Little Dumbbell Nebula

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NASA’s Optical Comms Demo Transmits Data Over 140 Million Miles

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European Service Module

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NASA at Home: Virtual Tours and Apps

NASA is exploring our solar system and beyond, uncovering worlds, stars, and cosmic mysteries near and far with our powerful fleet of space and ground-based missions. 

Explore our facilities. View our laboratories. Enter our operations control centers.

We invite you to tour NASA  virtually  from the comfort of your home or convenience of your mobile device.

RS-25 Rocket Engine Testing : NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi conducted a  series of RS-25 rocket engine hot fire tests for NASA’s Space Launch System,  which is being built for missions beyond low-Earth orbit that will carry crew and cargo to the Moon and destinations beyond.

Commercial Crew Program 360-Degree Virtual Reality Tour : NASA’s Commercial Crew Program works with commercial partners to  launch astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil on American-built rockets and spacecraft . These immersive videos share the story of groundbreaking innovation borne of this government-industry partnership.

International Space Station Tour : The International Space Station is a unique  scientific platform where astronauts conduct experiments across multiple disciplines of research  – including Earth and space science, biology, human physiology, physical sciences, and technology demonstrations – that cannot be performed anywhere on Earth. In 2020, the station celebrated 20 years of a continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Operations Centers

Explore Goddard’s Clean Room : James Webb Space Telescope’s Communications Lead Laura Betz takes us  behind the scenes inside the world’s largest clean room  at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Explore  where the Hubble Space Telescope was built and where its successor – the James Webb Space Telescope – was assembled . See the special gowning process engineers go through on a daily basis to enter this super clean environment. This tour gives you a 360-degree look from the unique filter wall to the storage of Webb’s 18 gold-plated mirrors. Check out Goddard’s Space Environment Simulator, a massive thermal vacuum chamber in which scientists and engineers cryotested the heart of the telescope, ISIM, by lowering the temperature of the structure to 42 Kelvin (-384.1 Fahrenheit or -231.1 Celsius) and below to ensure that it can withstand the frigid temperatures Webb will face 1 million miles out in space.

Robotic Operations Center (ROC) : This 360-degree  view  of Goddard’s Robotic Operations Center (ROC) shows off its  unique hexapod robot, which helps engineers simulate the way a satellite moves in space.  Drag the photo to explore the rest of the state-of-the-art facility. The ROC acts as an incubator for satellite servicing technologies that will allow for the repair, refueling, and upgrading of spacecraft. In this lab, robotic capabilities are tested in spacelike conditions before they are put to action in orbit.

Solar System

Planets of Other Stars

NASA’s Exoplanet Excursions : A  guided journey through the amazing TRAPPIST-1 star system,  known to be the  home of seven Earth-size exoplanets orbiting a star  that is only a little larger than Jupiter. This also includes tours of the Spitzer Space Telescope and the ability to control the telescope yourself.

Exoplanet Travel Bureau : Explore 360-degree  visualizations of the surfaces of planets of other stars  (and download free posters!). This works on desktops and mobile devices, and it is optimized for such viewers as Google Cardboard.

NASA Centers (with virtual tours)

NASA’s Ames Research Center Virtual Tour : NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, has led NASA in conducting world-class research and development in aeronautics, exploration technology, and science aligned with the center’s core capabilities.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Virtual Tours : NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, is NASA’s primary center for high-risk, atmospheric flight research and test projects. For almost 75 years, research at Armstrong has led to major advancements and breakthroughs in the design and capabilities of many state-of-the-art civil and military aircraft.

NASA’s Glenn Research Center Virtual Tours : NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland designs and develops innovative technology to advance NASA’s missions in aeronautics and space exploration. 

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Virtual Tour : NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is humanity’s leading center for exploring where humans cannot yet reach. Its spacecraft have flown to every planet and the Sun in a quest to understand our place in the universe, and to search for the possibility of life beyond Earth. 

NASA’s Johnson Space Center Virtual Tour : NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston is home to mission control and astronaut training. It also leads International Space Station operations and expeditions, development of the Orion spacecraft, NASA’s Gateway outpost program, and numerous other advanced human exploration projects.

NASA’s Langley Research Center Virtual Tours : NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, works to make revolutionary improvements to aviation, expand understanding of Earth’s atmosphere and develop technology for space exploration. It was also where NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson worked. 

Featured Apps

NASA selfie app :  Put your photo in a virtual spacesuit  in front of some of NASA’s most captivating space images. Access the  NASA Selfie app for iOS  or the  NASA Selfie app for Google .

NASA app : This app offers  news and multimedia from around the agency ; other applications focus on individual NASA projects or research areas.

Aircraft and Aeronautics

Aeronautics augmented reality app : Learn about NASA’s  X-57 Maxwell, X-59 QueSST, and G-III Gulfstream aircraft  through an app that brings them onto your mobile phone.

“Next Stop: The Stratosphere” : Explore SOFIA, NASA’s flying observatory, a  Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a 106-inch telescope.  Scientists aboard SOFIA study stars, black holes, and more while flying between 38,000 and 45,000 feet.

Spacecraft augmented reality app : Learn about and  interact with a variety of spacecraft  that explore our solar system, study Earth, and observe the universe.

Browse more  NASA apps  and apps created by  NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory .

We encourage you to visit these sites for additional activities and resources:

NASA’s Artemis Program ,  NASA’s STEM Engagement , and  NASA Kids’ Club

If you are interested in having a NASA speaker give a virtual presentation to your class or organization, visit the  Speakers Bureau website  and submit a request form.

Discover More Topics From NASA

NASA At Home

NASA at Home: For Kids and Families

NASA at Home: Be a Scientist

NASA at Home – E-books

The Nine Planets

Solar System Tour

Solar System Scope is an incredibly accurate solar system tour, allowing you to explore the solar system, the night sky and outer space in real-time.

All of the objects on the tour are accurately positioned based on where they are right this very second, and the tour contains interesting facts and information about the many objects in space.

Every now and then, don’t you wish you could just pack your bags and jet off on an exciting, awe-inspiring journey across our breathtaking solar system? Ever wondered what it’d be like to skim past the gas giants or marvel at the icy rings of Saturn up close? Well, while Elon Musk is still working on making that a reality, I’ll be your virtual guide on a one-of-a-kind solar system tour – an enlightening adventure, without the risk of being lost in space!

Our journey starts right here, on our very own life-logged planet, Earth. As we embark on this space voyage, we’ll traverse through the neighboring rocky planets, glide past the incredible asteroid belt, and sweep across the majestic giants, their icy rings and numerous satellites. Towards the end, we’ll be gracefully riding the gravitational waves, leaving the outer edges of our solar system, where you’ll get a rare glimpse of the enigmatic region populated by icy objects known as the Kuiper Belt.

But before we start our engines and head for the inky vastness of space, it’s important to remember that although space explorations have given us a fair idea about these celestial bodies, there’s still an ocean of mysteries waiting to be unfolded. The real beauty of our cosmic neighborhood lies in its sheer vastness, diversity and the endless scope of discovery that it harbors. From the scorching heat of Mercury to the frigid reaches Pluto and beyond, brace yourself for an  out-of-this-world experience !

The Exciting Experience of a Solar System Tour

Imagine the prospect of a real-life  solar system tour . It’s akin to a child’s joy on their first trip to a theme park. A hands-on space exploration that goes beyond the textbooks, casting a mesmerizing spell on minds open to the wonders of the universe.

Propelling past Earth’s atmosphere, you’d first mark a date with our closest celestial neighbor—the Moon. The Apollo astronauts traversed its dusty plains more than five decades ago. Yet for us, it would still be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Next on the itinerary is our scorched twin, Venus. Here’s a fun fact,  Venus  is the only planet in our solar system that spins opposite to Earth.

Then we arrive at the pièce de résistance: our bloodline, the Sun. During the visit, you could learn more about its billion-year lifespan and its constant solar storms. The solar system tour would not be complete without a stopover at Mars. Known as the Red Planet, it’s been the subject of numerous  space missions , most notably the Mars Rover mission seeking evidence of life.

Here’s a quick tabular overview:

From the asteroid belt to Jupiter’s turbulent storms, every celestial body sits ready to unfold its story. With the tour continuing to the outer reaches of the universe, you’d experience the icy solitude of the outer planets like Neptune and Uranus.

However, we shouldn’t forget about an often overlooked, yet significant part of our solar system. Those are the  comets  and asteroids, remnants from the formation of our system almost 4.6 billion years ago.

Being part of a solar system tour , you wouldn’t just be observing the cosmos. Instead, you’d immerse yourself in a cosmic ocean, each wave presenting a new revelation about the universe. It’s not merely an experience; it’s the chance to physically connect with the vast expanse of space that usually only feels a speck away in the night sky. This would indeed be a ticket to the greatest show in the cosmos.

Traveling through the Solar System: What to Expect

Imagine blasting off into the cosmos on a spaceship designed for a thrilling expedition! As we set off on our  solar system tour , the things we’ll perceive are extraordinarily vast and stunningly diverse. This voyage will give us a newfound respect for the majesty of the cosmic neighborhood we inhabit.

Our first stop will be  Mercury , the closest planet to the sun. It’s a small, bare, and intensely heated planet. We shouldn’t forget the sunscreen as daytime temperatures can soar up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!

Next, we’ll swing by  Venus  – the hot, hurricane-ridden planet awaits us with an unbelievably corrosive atmosphere. It’s interesting to note that Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, including Earth.

Continuing our journey, we’ll visit  Mars . Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, three times the height of Mount Everest. And don’t forget about the giant canyon, Valles Marineris, which would stretch from New York to Los Angeles if it was on Earth!

Yet, our extraordinary adventure won’t be all about planets. We’ll have a chance to marvel at the  Asteroid Belt , a ring composed of millions of rocky bodies. This celestial obstacle course lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Of course, we’ll also encounter the majestic giants of our solar system. The gas giants,  Saturn  and  Jupiter , as well as the icy giants,  Uranus  and  Neptune , will present captivating sights. We’ll see Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth, and Saturn’s intricate ring system. Uranus and Neptune, on the other hand, will dazzle us with their stunning cool-blue hues.

Admittedly, going further to behold the beauty of  Pluto , once a planet, now a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, caps off this unique expedition. The journey end will leave us with an understanding of the infinite yet harmonious chaos that forms our solar system.

So buckle up, folks. The adventure through our heavenly bodies is par for the cosmic course. Our solar system, with its varied and breathtaking celestial bodies, offers a journey like no other. It’s going to be a wild ride! Just remember, despite the vastness of space, we’re never too far away from our home planet, Earth.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Intergalactic Journey

Wraping up, we’ve journeyed past planets and stars, across cosmic fields, and brushed alongside cosmic neighbors throughout our solar system tour.  Isn’t it just incredible that we live in such an expansive universe that holds so many unseen wonders?

Throughout our intergalactic expedition, we’ll forever remember the unique characteristics of each celestial body. Let’s just take a quick review again:

• Mercury,  with its sweltering days and frigid nights,
• Venus,  stunningly bright yet shrouded in clouds,
• Mars,  our red neighbor that pique our curiosity about extraterrestrial life,
• Jupiter’s  giant gas storms,
• Saturn’s  enchanting rings,
• Uranus  and  Neptune’s  icy allure,
• And let’s not forget about our little cosmic sibling, the dwarf planet  Pluto .

Something important stood out during our journey, invoking a sense of interconnectivity. Each exists in symbiosis, drawing and relying upon the sun’s energy. Just like how everything on Earth is connected, so are we connected to our cosmic counterparts.

So, what’s the takeaway? Should we plan to pack our bags and ship off to Mars? I’ll leave that up to you. What I will stress, though, is the importance of space exploration. It’s not just a testament to human curiosity, it’s a driver of scientific breakthroughs and a reminder of the vast unexplored universe that lies ahead of us.

It might seem frightening, or perhaps intriguing. Yet isn’t that the essence of exploration? Stepping into the unknown, learning new things, using that newfound knowledge to improve and innovate. And in doing so, perhaps we’ll find more about ourselves along the way.

To sum it up, our universe offers infinite mysteries and wonders for us to discover. As we move forward, let’s keep looking up and fueling our curiosity. Remember, no question is a bad question and our solar system tour just has begun. As we continue to explore the stars, who knows what we’ll uncover? The only thing for sure is that the stars await, ready to share their secrets with us.

Due to errors in the way the solar system model works embedded on this page, we now link directly to Solar System Scope.

Welcome to ViewSpace

Hero interactive.

Explore the Universe with Interactives and Videos

About ViewSpace

What is viewspace.

ViewSpace is a free, web-based collection of digital interactives and videos highlighting the latest developments in astronomy and Earth science.

ViewSpace gives you the opportunity to explore our planet, solar system, galaxy, and universe. Provided free with the support of NASA, ViewSpace is developed by a team of scientists, educators, and communication specialists who collaborate to ensure that content is accurate, up-to-date, engaging, relevant, and accessible to a wide audience.

Interactives

ViewSpace interactives allow you to explore objects and materials from different perspectives, discovering how we can combine information to better understand the universe.

Different forms of light: Explore visible and invisible wavelengths of light that help us understand features like the dusty brim of the Sombrero Galaxy roughly 30 million light-years away.

Hidden objects: Unveil invisible light to reveal hidden objects like the stars forming inside Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust 7,500 light-years from Earth.

ViewSpace videos tell the stories of the planets, stars, galaxies, and universe, giving viewers the opportunity to experience space and Earth as seen with satellites and telescopes.

Astronomy: Explore the sky with stories told through spectacular imagery from space telescopes.

Earth science: Gain new perspectives on our home planet based on data gathered by Earth-orbiting satellites.

ViewSpace is produced by the Office of Public Outreach at the Space Telescope Science Institute , in partnership with the NASA's Universe of Learning project and NASA's Earth Observing System, Hubble Space Telescope Project, and James Webb Space Telescope Project.

ViewSpace has been exhibited in museums, planetariums, and science centers across the country since 2000.

What Will You Explore?

The Latest Discoveries in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Recent Natural Events and Satellite Views of Earth

In-depth Stories of How Science and the Universe Work

Stunning Imagery and Accessible Explanations

Sample Images from ViewSpace

What objects and materials make up the universe, and how do we study the invisible as well as the visible?

Data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Observatory are used to create a map of dark matter (blue) in galaxy cluster MACS J0717.5+3745.

What are galaxies; how do they vary; and how do they form, interact, and change over time?

The Penguin and the Egg (Arp 142) is a pair of galaxies that are being distorted by their mutual gravitational attraction.

How do the Sun, planets, moons, comets, and asteroids interact as a system?

Saturn’s moon Titan casts a shadow as it passes between the planet and the Sun.

How do telescopes help us better understand the objects and materials that light up the sky?

With telescopes, we can see details of the Milky Way, including glowing clouds of dust and gas like the Lobster Nebula.

How fast is the universe expanding and what does this tell us about its past and future?

Over time, space expands, stretching the wavelenghts of light and causing the distant galaxies seen in the Ultra Deep Field image from the Hubble Space Telescope to look redder than the closer galaxies.

How do we detect and study planets orbiting other stars?

Changes in the brightness of starlight, measured by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, indicates the presence of a planet orbiting the star.

What happens to stars at the end of their lives, and how do stellar explosions affect the space around them?

Visible, infrared, and X-ray light from supernova remnant Cassiopeia A reveal remains of an exploded star.

How can we use interactions between light and matter to probe the deep universe?

The enormous mass of galaxy cluster Abell 370 bends the space around it, magnifying and distorting the light from more distant galaxies into arc-like streaks.

How are astronomers combining data from space and ground-based telescopes, particle detectors, and gravitational wave detectors to understand cosmic objects, processes, and events?

An artist’s illustration depicts the detection of neutrino particles and gamma rays emitted by a supermassive black hole at the center of a distant galaxy.

How and where do stars form, and how do they shape their surroundings?

Pillars of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula are sculpted and illuminated by stellar winds and high-energy radiation of bright stars.

How can we use satellites to map, study, and monitor Earth’s land surface, oceans, and atmosphere?

An image captured by the Landsat 8 satellite in May 2018 shows active lava flows from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

What evidence supports our theories of how the universe formed and how it has evolved over time?

A map of the sky from the Planck Space Telescope highlights variations in the cosmic microwave background radiation—energy left over from the big bang some 13.8 billion years ago.

What tools and methods do scientists use to study Earth and space?

NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite (SMAP) helps scientists monitor droughts, predict floods, and improve farm productivity.

Is Earth unique? Are we alone?

Observations from space telescopes have revealed thousands of exoplanets of different of sizes, compositions, temperatures, and atmospheres, including seven rocky Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system, 40 light-years from Earth (artist’s illustration).

Where Is ViewSpace?

ViewSpace videos are on exhibit at museums, science centers, and planetariums across the country.

ViewSpace interactives are available online.

Use the map to find a ViewSpace video location near you.

Location Spotlight

Worcester, Massachusetts

Westcave Preserve

Round Mountain, Texas

Lowell Observatory

Flagstaff, Arizona

Maryland Science Center

Baltimore, Maryland

Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey

Clark Planetarium

Salt Lake City, Utah

Becoming a ViewSpace Venue

ViewSpace provides informal learning sites with engaging, accurate, relevant, and up-to-date astronomy and Earth science content. Access to ViewSpace is free, requiring only registration, a computer or Smart TV, and persistent internet access. ViewSpace content is self-updating and videos can be set to play automatically, requiring minimal staff effort to maintain.

Join hundreds of others in featuring ViewSpace as part of your exhibits.

Who Produces and Supports ViewSpace?

ViewSpace is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and is provided free of charge through financial support and subject matter expertise from the NASA’s Universe of Learning project, NASA’s Earth Observing System Project Science Office, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Project, and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Project.

Funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, NASA’s Universe of Learning is an integrated astrophysics STEM learning and literacy project developed through a partnership between the Space Telescope Science Institute, Caltech/IPAC, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and Sonoma State University.

NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) is a coordinated series of satellites designed to observe Earth’s land, atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere. As part of the Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the EOS Project Science Office (EOSPSO) is committed to sharing information with both researchers and the general public.

The Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope are two of NASA’s flagship missions designed to explore and advance our understanding of the universe. The missions’ communications programs are dedicated to sharing scientific advances and making the world’s astronomical information accessible to all.

Solar System Exploration

Join us as we explore our planetary neighborhood: The Sun, planets, moons, and millions of asteroids and comets.

featured missions

Europa Clipper

Launching Oct. 10, 2024, to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa.

Launched on a mission to a metal-rich asteroid, arriving 2029.

OSIRIS-APEX

On its way to explore asteroid Apophis.

En route to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids.

Perseverance Rover

Exploring the surface of Mars since 2021.

Delivered asteroid Bennu sample in September 2023.

Curiosity Rover

Exploring the surface of Mars since 2012.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Orbiting the Moon since 2009.

BepiColombo*

En route to Mercury orbit in 2025. *ESA/JAXA-led.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Orbiting Mars since 2006.

Orbiting Mars since 2014.

Mars Odyssey

Orbiting Mars since 2001.

Mars Express*

Orbiting Mars since 2003. *ESA-led.

Asteroid and comet hunter since 2009.

Orbiting Jupiter since 2016.

New Horizons

Exploring the Kuiper Belt since 2015.

Jupiter moon arrival in 2034. *ESA-led.

Solar System Overview

The solar system has one star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, at least 290 moons, more than 1.3 million asteroids, and about 3,900 comets. It is located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur. Our solar system orbits the center of the galaxy at about 515,000 mph (828,000 kph). It takes about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.

We call it the solar system because it is made up of our star, the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity – the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; dwarf planets Pluto, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris – along with hundreds of moons; and millions of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.

10 THINGS about our solar system

Many Worlds

Our solar system has a star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, and thousands of asteroids, and comets.

Meet Me in the Orion Arm

Our solar system orbits the center of the Milky Way galaxy. We’re in one of the galaxy’s four spiral arms.

A Long Way Around

It takes our solar system about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.

Spiraling Through Space

There are three general kinds of galaxies: elliptical, irregular, and spiral. The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.

Room to Breathe

Our solar system has no atmosphere. But it has many worlds – including Earth – with many kinds of atmospheres.

Our solar system has more than 200 moons.

Ring Worlds

The four giant planets – and at least one asteroid – have rings.

Getting Out There

More than 300 robotic spacecraft have left Earth's orbit, and 24 U.S. astronauts have traveled to the Moon.

Life as We Know It

So far, Earth is the only place we've found life in our solar system, but we’re looking.

Going Interstellar

The Voyagers are the only spacecraft to reach interstellar space.

Solar System Facts

Planet Sizes and Locations

Temperatures Across Our Solar System

10 things about the kuiper belt.

All About Asteroid Apophis

When is the next full moon.

Our detailed daily guide to the night sky includes full Moon lore, eclipses, asteroid flybys, and more.

NASA's Eyes

Experience Earth, our solar system, nearby asteroids, the universe, and the spacecraft exploring them with immersive real-time 3D web-based apps. Start exploring your solar system now!

Latest News

NASA’s Planet-Hunting Satellite Temporarily on Pause

Explore the Universe with the First E-Book from NASA’s Fermi

Hubble Celebrates 34th Anniversary with a Look at the Little Dumbbell Nebula

Pushing the Limits of Sub-Kilowatt Electric Propulsion Technology to Enable Planetary Exploration and Commercial Mission Concepts

Why is Methane Seeping on Mars? NASA Scientists Have New Ideas

NASA Selects New Aircraft-Driven Studies of Earth and Climate Change

Hubble Captures a Bright Galactic and Stellar Duo

AI for Earth: How NASA’s Artificial Intelligence and Open Science Efforts Combat Climate Change

Discover More Topics From NASA

Kuiper Belt

INTERSTELLAR TRIPS

Explore Beyond

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Space Tours

It’s Time to Explore More

Let Interstellar Trips help you find your perfect space vacation. We offer a wide range of luxury space tours, including private trips with our partners SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. All of our trips are designed for first-class customers, who value their privacy and want the most luxurious experience possible.

ORBIT EXPEDITION

Stratosphere trips are a type of space tourism experience that involves traveling to the stratosphere, the layer of Earth's atmosphere that lies between approximately 6 and 30 miles (10 and 50 kilometers) above the Earth's surface. Stratosphere trips offer passengers the opportunity to experience weightlessness and breathtaking views of the Earth and the stars.

Space Expeditions 

Space Travel Expeditions involve traveling beyond the Earth's atmosphere into outer space. These trips can take a variety of forms, including trips to the International Space Station (ISS), lunar missions, and trips to other destinations in the solar system.

Why Travel With Us?

Your Personal Travel Guide

The Ultimate Space Adventure

Space travel is exciting for a number of reasons. One of the most unique and exciting aspects of space travel is the opportunity to experience weightlessness. This can be a thrilling and unforgettable experience, as it allows travellers to feel what it's like to float freely in a microgravity environment. Space travel also offers travellers the opportunity to see the Earth from a perspective that is not possible from the surface. From space, travellers can see the curvature of the Earth and the stunning beauty of our planet from a completely new angle.

Adventures In The Final Frontier

In addition to these exciting experiences, space travel also offers the opportunity to explore the unknown. Space is an enormous and largely unexplored frontier, and space travel offers the opportunity to explore this vast and mysterious realm. For many people, the idea of being able to explore new worlds and discover what lies beyond our planet is a truly exciting prospect. Furthermore, many space travel missions are designed to gather scientific data and conduct experiments that can help us understand more about the universe and our place in it. For people who are interested in science and discovery, the opportunity to participate in these types of missions can be very exciting. Finally, the thrill of adventure is also a major part of the appeal of space travel. Whether it's the excitement of launching into space or the thrill of exploring new worlds, space travel offers a unique and thrilling adventure that is unlike anything else.

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Mankind’s greatest adventure has been our voyages into outer space. The world has been mesmerized with images of the fragile blue ball we call home from hundreds of miles away. We have been transfixed with our heroics on the moon and thrilled as we watched rockets thunder into the sky.

Across the country, that history is celebrated at the 13 NASA space and science centers. It doesn’t matter if you’re a space geek or a casual observer, the centers offer something for everyone — fascinating exhibits, educational guided tours, immersive IMAX movies, rides, and shuttle simulators that will test your piloting skills. Many places even have snack bars and restaurants.

Here are only a few of the out-of-this-world, can’t-miss experiences waiting for you at NASA visitor centers.

All NASA visitor centers have variable hours (and some are temporarily closed) due to COVID-19. Visit their website for updates on their hours of operation.

1. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Cape canaveral, florida.

When most people think about our space program, they remember images of rockets roaring into a beautiful blue Florida sky. This is the place — the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.

Out of all of the NASA visitor’s centers, Kennedy has the most to offer — IMAX theaters showing not only space films but documentaries and feature movies as well; guided tours of launch facilities at Cape Canaveral (also known as Cape Kennedy); Astronaut Encounters where you can have lunch with our astronauts, feel the sensation of being launched aboard a space shuttle, and take a tour of the actual space shuttle, Atlantis, with former launch director Mike Leinbach; for the youngsters, the two-story Planet Play playground, and so much more.

However, the big attraction and experience at Kennedy is that you can get the best seats to see an actual launch. Missions (both manned and unmanned) launch almost every week. Very soon, you can have front row seats to see the largest rocket ever built — the Space Launch System (SLS) — take to the sky as we get ready to return to the moon. Visit the center’s Launch Schedule website for the latest schedule and ticket prices.

There are a variety of ticket packages available. Visit the KSC website for details. Keep in mind that launches draw a crowd, so get your tickets early. The center is open 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Remember, though, that Kennedy is a working spaceport, so some attractions (like bus tours) may be closed during launches.

2. Space Center

Houston, texas.

Next to the Kennedy Space Center, Space Center Houston is the second most popular NASA visitor center. Once a rocket is launched from Florida, control of the flight is switched here to the Johnson Spaceflight Center (you know, “Houston, we’ve had a problem”).

As with all centers, the Houston center has plenty of historic artifacts, including the iconic Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control Center, where mission controllers worked to land a man on the moon, but the big draw here is being able to watch astronauts train. A special tram ride takes you to the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, where astronauts train on the latest spacecraft, including the International Space Station and the new Orion spacecraft, that will one day head to the moon and Mars.

Being an active space training facility and mission control center, the visitor center is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. The center has extended hours for the Christmas Galaxy Lights display that runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thanksgiving through New Year’s weekend.

No matter when you visit, it’s best to purchase your tickets online to avoid crowds.

3. U.S. Space And Rocket Center

Huntsville, alabama.

They call it the “Rocket City” — Huntsville, Alabama . It was here that Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team developed the Redstone rocket that put our first astronaut — Alan Shepard — into space, as well as the Saturn V that landed men on the moon. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center celebrates this history with thousands of historical artifacts.

But it’s not all about history. There are plenty of interactive activities for the explorer in you, like the Adult or Family Astronaut Training programs where you get to do a little astronaut training, take a 5-minute ride on the HyperShip motion-based simulator, experience the force of gravity on the G-Force Accelerator, take a spin on the stomach-churning Multi-Axis Trainer, and more.

For those who want something a little more down-to-earth, bus tours of the Redstone Arsenal, where our space journey began, are also available.

You will also see one of the few remaining and intact Saturn V rockets. In fact, you can’t miss it. It can be seen for miles as you drive along I-565 heading to the center.

And since Huntsville became the burgeoning city it is today due to the German rocket scientists, it’s only fitting that there is a German Biergarten serving up live music and beer spring through fall.

The center is open Monday — Friday 10 a.m. to 4 pm., Saturday 10 to 5, and Sunday 11 to 5. Tickets can be purchased online or at the entrance.

4. Infinity Science Center

Pearlington, mississippi.

A little-known NASA facility located just off I-10 in Pearlington, Mississippi, is the Infinity Science Center at the Stennis Space Center.

Stennis is the site where NASA tests all of their rocket engines. In fact, the largest engines ever built for the Saturn V moon rocket and the new Space Launch System (SLS) are fired up here, and if you’re lucky, you may get to see the show.

Being small in size, Stennis tends to be less crowded but still makes for a full day of exploration. The center has movies and documentaries playing throughout the day in their 3D Immersive Theater, the actual first stage of a Saturn V moon rocket, an Apollo 11 Virtual Reality Simulator, rooms of historical artifacts, guided bus tours of engine test stands, a snack bar, and more.

Infinity is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on major holidays. Current ticket prices can be found online.

5. Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Pasadena, california.

Talk about being far out — it doesn’t get any farther than at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California . This is where all of the unmanned satellites that zip through the galaxy — and beyond — are tracked like the Voyagers launched in the 1970s. These satellites are still doing research billions of miles outside our own solar system, and the Mars rovers are trekking across the Martian landscape.

All tours begin with a multimedia presentation, Journey to the Planets and Beyond, then take you to see flight operations and spacecraft assembly.

Tours are available from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on weekends. Tours are free, but reservations are required. Contact JPL at (818) 352-1234. Valid identification such as a driver’s license is required for entry.

John Huntington / Shutterstock

6. Wallops Flight Facility

Wallops island, virginia.

Looking for more rocket launches? Then head over to Wallops Island, Virginia, and the NASA Wallops Flight Facility . Grab a seat in the bleachers to feel the thunder of large-scale launch vehicles like the Antares or sit on the center’s observation deck for the thrill of a sounding rocket launch.

The visitor center also has many exhibits documenting the history of flight from the Wright Brothers to the Space Station.

Wallops Island is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, July through August, Tuesday through Saturday, September through June, closed major holidays. Admission is free.

7. Virginia Air And Space Museum

Hampton, virginia.

The history of aviation is on full display at the Virginia Air and Space Museum in Hampton, Virginia.

The museum features over 30 historic aircraft and spacecraft, including the Apollo 12 capsule and the first Orion capsule, IMAX movies, and a killer simulator — the MaxFlight, a fully interactive, 360-degree simulator complete with authentic pitch and roll (up and down, side to side) just like an actual airplane. And different planes such as vintage WWII fighters and jets turn the experience into a roller coaster.

Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m., closed all major holidays. Beat the crowd by purchasing your tickets online.

Usa-Pyon / Shutterstock

8. Space Shuttles

Then there are those science and aviation-based museums that, while not an official NASA visitor center, still have some pretty amazing NASA connections — actual flight flown space shuttles.

Docked along the banks of the Hudson River in lower Manhattan , the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Intrepid is incredible on its own, but add to the experience the space shuttle Enterprise that was used for initial testing of the shuttle’s landing capabilities.

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s annex, Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, plays host to the workhorse of the shuttle fleet, Discovery, which logged in 149 million miles over 39 flights.

And the space shuttle Endeavor has found a permanent home at the California Science Center in Los Angeles .

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Recently retired, Joe plans to continue his love of traveling while sharing his adventures and exploration of the U.S. and the world with TravelAwaits readers.

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Space Tourism: How Much Does it Cost & Who's Offering It?

Last Updated: December 17, 2022

Many of us dream of going to space and over 600 people have traveled to space as astronauts in government-funded agencies such as NASA, the European Space Agency, and Roscosmos. But how much does spaceflight cost in today and how is that expected to change in the coming years? 

With new advancements in spaceflight technology, the costs of space travel are decreasing, making the dream of spaceflight a little closer for us all.

Evolution of Spaceflight Costs and Technologies

During the space race, the cost of sending something into space averaged between $6,000 to over $25,000 per kg of weight not adjusted for inflation and NASA spent $28 billion to land astronauts on the moon, about $288 billion in today’s dollars.

In recent decades, it has averaged around $10,000 per kg though certain missions have been higher due to other factors including the destination, the size of the rocket, the amount of fuel needed, and the cost of fuel. 

After the retirement of the space shuttle program, NASA paid Russia to transport astronauts to the ISS at about $80 million per seat on the Soyuz rocket. NASA’s biggest and newest rocket, the SLS (Space Launch System) which is currently being utilized for the new moon missions including Artemis and Orion, currently costs about $2-4 billion per launch.

But recent years and the addition of private space companies have drastically changed the game. NASA allowed private space companies to develop equipment for missions, including a 2006 partnership with SpaceX under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to provide resupply for crew and cargo demonstration contracts to the International Space Station (ISS). 

This partnership has continued to flourish over the years with SpaceX successfully launching two NASA astronauts in May 2020 on a Crew Dragon Spacecraft, making SpaceX the first private company to send astronauts to the ISS and the first crewed orbital launch from American soil in 9 years.

With the revolutionary technology of reusable boosters from SpaceX, the cost has plummeted, achieving less than $1,600 per kg with the Falcon Heavy (still totaling more than $100 million per launch) and even a projected cost of under a thousand for their next generation model Star Ship.

 These recent innovations are even making SLS the more expensive, less efficient option if SpaceX’s projections continue to progress as expected within margins of error. We shall see how NASA plans to adapt goals in light of this.

The Falcon Heavy is a cost-effective option for launching payloads into space.

The rise of private space companies

With private space companies, the opportunity for civilians to book a trip to space similar to booking a flight came closer to reality. Dennis Tito was the first private citizen to pay for a trip to space with a trip to the ISS from April 28th to May 6th, 2001 for $20 million dollars. Tito purchased his experience through Space Adventures Inc. which was founded in 1998 and offers a variety of different space experiences. They even acquired Zero Gravity Corporation, NASA’s provider of Reduced Gravity Training (not in space) for its astronauts, in 2008. They offer similar experiences for private individuals starting at about $8,200 as of this publishing (December 2022).

Space Adventures sent seven other space tourists to the ISS through 2009, but due to a number of factors, Space Adventures had to put their ISS offerings on hold until 2021 when they were able to purchase two Soyuz seats due to NASA moving their contract to SpaceX. Space Adventures sent two people to the ISS via the Roscosmos Soyuz rocket in December 2021 and is working on expanding its offerings.

In addition to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, there are a number of other private space companies getting into the commercial spaceflight/ space tourism market, most notably Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origins.

Flight Providers & Rates

What are the current rates for commercial spaceflight tickets? What commercial spaceflight trips have already happened? All prices are per person/ per seat.

SpaceX has had the most experience in sending humans to space thanks to its partnership with NASA and Musk has made it clear that he wants to make space travel an option for the public. To date, SpaceX has offered two commercial spaceflight options and has one big one planned for the future:

• SpaceX completed a Multi-Day Orbital Voyage, the first of their new plan to offer private astronaut experiences through their NASA partnership.  
• Estimated $55 million for a 3-day stay inside a modified SpaceX Dragon capsule orbiting the Earth at 357 miles (574 km) with three crewmates, sponsored by billionaire Jared Isaacman to raise money for St Jude’s Children’s Hospital
• Partnership between SpaceX and Houston-based Axiom Space Inc.
• $55 million for a 10-day trip to ISS at 408 km with a weeklong (8-day) stay in the orbital lab. 
• Expected to continue in 2023
• Axiom plans to build a stand-alone space station to replace the ISS with the first module expected to launch in 2024.
• Steve Aoki: American DJ and record producer
• Everyday Astronaut Tim Dodd: American science communicator, content creator, photographer, and musician
• Yemi A.D.: Czech choreographer, art director and performer
• Rhiannon Adam: Irish photographer
• Karim Iliya: British photographer and filmmaker
• Brendan Hall: American filmmaker and photographer
• Dev Joshi: Indian television actor
• Choi Seung-hyun (stage name: T.O.P.): South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor
• Cost is unknown, likely a minimum of $500 million

2. Blue Origin

Blue Origin: currently offers a 100km 12-minute ride to the Karman Line, the recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space; pricing is still unclear and dependent on a variety of factors 

• On July 2021, Jeff and Mark Bezos went into space on the New Shepard rocket with Oliver Daemen (who won the trip through an auction bid of around 28 million) and honored guest Wally Funk (a member of Mercury 13, the private program in which women trained to be astronauts but ultimately never went to space)
• Blue Origin has completed 6 commercial space flights as of this publishing. Some “honorable guests” have been invited free of charge, such as Funk and actor William Shatner (Captain Kirk from the original Star Trek). Some have been sponsored or have received special deals due to their nonprofit status.
• $28 million winning auction bid for the first flight ( $19 million was donated)
• $1 million for a board member of a nonprofit
• About $1.25 for a Dude Perfect comedy group crew member, hosted by MoonDAO in August 2022

3. Virgin Galactic Subortbital Joy Ride

Virgin Galactic Subortbital Joy Ride: $450,000 for a 90-minute ride to suborbital space 50km above sea level 

• In July 2021, founder Richard Branson flew to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere with two pilots and three other Virgin Galactic employees as the first test of commercial spaceflight for the company
• Each VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo carries up to four passengers
• Expected flights are currently anticipated to begin in 2023 
• Includes training accommodations and amenities; launches from New Mexico

4. Roscosmos/ Space Adventures Customized ISS Trip

Roscosmos/ Space Adventures Customized ISS Trip: $50-60million for a 12-day trip to the ISS at 408 km

• In October 2021 an actress and director shot scenes for the first movie filmed in space
• December 2021 Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano for two days (same billionaire planning to go to the moon with SpaceX)
• With the current situation between Russia and Ukraine, this option is effectively nonexistent currently

5. Space Perspective

Space Perspective: a six-hour balloon ride to space/ the stratosphere on their “Spaceship Neptune” at $125,000

• Rides are currently scheduled to begin by the end of 2024. 
• A pressurized capsule will be slowly lifted by a football-field-sized hydrogen-filled balloon 19 miles (30 km) into the stratosphere, about 3 times the altitude of commercial planes. 
• The passenger cabin features a bar, bathroom, and windows for sightseeing and is expected to carry 8 passengers and 1 pilot per trip.

6. Aurora Space Station (no longer in development)

Aurora Space Station was supposed to be the world’s first luxury space hotel, offering a 12-day stay for $9.5 million allowing them to free float, observe space and earth, practice hydroponics and play in a hologram deck, but they shut down operations and refunded all deposits in March 2021. They received a lot of media attention and therefore are noted here due to that notoriety.

Conclusion: the current cost of flying to space

Currently, it is only available to those who can spend an average of $250,000 to $500,000 for suborbital trips (about a fifteen-minute ride to the edge of space and back) or flights to actual orbit at more than $50 million per seat (though typically a longer trip than 15 minutes).

It could be free/ discounted if you can find a sponsor, often for nonprofit/ charity purposes, or if you are someone of notoriety that can help spread the company’s mission. 

Waitlists are available for most offerings, with a deposit, with many stretching years into the future, which might end up helping you have a spot at a more reasonable price in the future if you can save up.

Many companies are looking to provide extended stay options on private space stations in the future, similar to how you might book a flight somewhere and stay in a hotel for a few days. Again, for the immediate future, this is estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars. The biggest portion of the cost would be launching them, though it is still estimated that a couple million dollars will be needed to cover the expenses of your stay while you are on the space station, whether that is included in the ticket price or added on top of that.

Many companies are hopeful they can eventually price a trip to space down to $100,000 but that will likely take some time, even with the cost-saving measures of reusable boosters. Many forms of recent technology have evolved exponentially in recent years and with dropping price rates as well. Just as plane travel was originally prohibitively expensive, but has now become fairly reasonable for the average consumer, the hope is that the same will eventually happen with space tourism, but we will have to see how long that takes. 

While the possibility of going to space is still out of reach for many of us, hopefully, the advancements in recent years and those yet to come will help to continually lower the costs of going to space, just as has occurred in many other fields. This author, for one, truly hopes that the interest of the elite who are currently able to participate in these offerings will spur research and development, not just of space tourism but space exploration in general, to help fuel a quicker journey to space access for all

Written by Sarah Hoffschwelle

Sarah Hoffschwelle is a freelance writer who covers a combination of topics including astronomy, general science and STEM, self-development, art, and societal commentary. In the past, Sarah worked in educational nonprofits providing free-choice learning experiences for audiences ages 2-99. As a lifelong space nerd, she loves sharing the universe with others through her words. She currently writes on Medium at  https://medium.com/@sarah-marie  and authors self-help and children’s books.

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9 Free Space Virtual Field Trips You Need to Take

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy .

Have you ever wanted to take your kids on a field trip through the far reaches of the universe? Show them what it’s like to stand on the moon?

Then you need to take a space virtual field trip with your kids!

Space Virtual Field Trips

There’s nothing like space virtual field trips for showing the universe to your children. You’ll explore Mars, check out the moon, tour the International Space Station, and more!

You and your kids will love taking these space virtual field trips through space in the comfort of your own home.

1. Interactive Mars Tour

See the images the Curiosity Rover sent back from Mars! The field trip begins by introducing NASA’s Curiosity Rover mission. Then you have the option of moving along Mar’s terrain, learning more about the mission, or traveling to different mission sites.

Head off on an interactive Mars field trip.

2. The Known Universe

Tour the known universe with an amazing video from the American Museum of Natural History. You and your children will start by hovering over the Himalayas before rising above the Earth and into space. This virtual field trip will take you to the farthest reaches of known space before returning you safely home again.

Don’t miss this stunning Tour the known universe .

3.The Nine Planets Solar System Tour

Head off on a virtual interactive tour of the solar system with The Nine Planets Solar System Tour. You’ll be able to view the solar system along with the constellations behind it. And you’ll also study each of the planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. In addition, you’ll explore the composition of the dwarf planets or the sun, and take a closer look at various moons.

The Nine Planets Solar System Tour is a beautiful space virtual field trip.

4. International Space Station Tour

Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams will take you on a tour of the International Space Station. You’ll learn about the different modules such as Harmony, Destiny, and Columbus. You and your kids will see the observation deck as well as the command post.

The International Space Station Tour is a fascinating glimpse of life in outer space.

5. Explore 3D Virtual Sites in Space

This site allows you to download and view 13 different sites in space, sites such as the Moon, Saturn, Pluto, Ceres, and the Milky Way Galaxy. Your kids will be fascinated by these glimpses into other worlds.

Head over and explore these virtual sites in space .

6. U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Tour the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama. See how large the rockets were. Take a look at a mockup of the lunar lander. And glance inside the mobile quarantine facility.

The US Space and Rocket Center Tour is an incredible glimpse into the history of US Space exploration.

7. Boeing Virtual Field Trip

Head over the Boeing for a trip to the historic Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. You and your kids will see inside the Starliner/CST-100, check out the Starliner simulator, meet some Boeing employees, and much more!

Take the Boeing Virtual Field Trip!

8. Tour of the Moon in 4K

Head to the moon for a tour in 4K! You’ll check out the Orientale Basin, the Shackleton Crater, the Apollo 17 Mission landing site, and more. Plus there are videos about how the moon evolved and seeing the Earthrise on the moon.

Tour of the Moon in 4K is an unforgettable space virtual field trip!

9. Virtual Planetarium: Sun, Moon, Stars

In the virtual planetarium show, “Sun, Moon, and Stars”, you’ll check out the sun’s daily path, classify start, note common constellations, and more.

Watch the Virtual Planetarium: Sun, Moon, Stars today.

Your and your children will love these space virtual field trips that explore the universe.

You’ll see the sun, the moon, and the stars. Meet people designing our future in space. And learn what life is like on the International Space Station.

>> Check out more virtual field trips you can take from home!

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An Overview of Space Tourism

• First Online: 23 March 2024

Cite this chapter

• Kang-Lin Peng 4 ,
• IokTeng Esther Kou 5 &
• Hong Chen 6  

Part of the book series: Contributions to Management Science ((MANAGEMENT SC.))

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The expansion of travel boundaries has been a significant aspect of human history (Cohen, Tour Recreat Res 42:22–31, 2017). In recent times, the tourism industry has extended its reach to outer space (Bushnell DM (2021) Space tourism and commercial deep space: humans going to and beyond low earth orbit. In technological breakthroughs and future business opportunities in education, health, and outer space. IGI Global, pp. 281–290).

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There is a place for all in outer space: ‘It’s not just for the geeks and the nerds’

UN News: Madam Director, technological development makes space exploration an even more promising vista than ever before, but at the same time, outer space is no longer just a matter for individual states or some interstates projects. It's being increasingly commercialized. What is the UN doing to make sure that his competition remains peaceful and fair?

Aarti Holla-Maini:   I wouldn't characterize anything as a competition. I think we must move away from the notion that there is still a race for space that was very much a Cold War situation at the time. We have moved on from there. Now we are really looking at space science and space exploration and looking for the most innovative and pragmatic approaches to that. That's why we see more commercial companies getting involved. If space agencies on their own run large space missions, they risk taking a lot longer and being a lot more expensive. 

The private sector allows a space agency, for example, NASA, to invite companies to make their proposals, and then selecting companies to engage in various missions to the Moon. If NASA was to do that on its own, it would cost a whole lot more money. This way, they spread their risk by funding multiple missions over a given period of time. They increase the chances for success. 

And at the United Nations, we have the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), that's the birthplace of all of the treaties and the resolutions and principles and guidelines which underpin everything that we see happening in the space economy today. And it's our job to make sure that we maintain transparency and an open dialogue. 

Around all the innovations that are happening, even if they involve companies, the industry can contribute to a to better, more informed decisions taken by policymakers. So, we're looking also for new ways to include industry in the dialogue but preserving the decision-making power of the Member States themselves: we don't want to move to a ‘pay-to-play’ model. That's not what the UN is about. 

UN News: Ever since the space age began, the Moon has been seen as a possible launchpad for deep space exploration, where research liboratories could be built or precious minerals excavated, whatnot. What does the UN have to say about the Moon exploration and development? As it's becoming a popular topic, are there any new initiatives in this area when it comes to legal matters or any other body of law for that? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  We are the Secretariate at the COPUOS, and the Committee also has two subcommittees. One is the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and another is the Legal Subcommittee. We have lunar activities being covered by both and that's two separate strands.

In the legal subcommittee the discussion on space resources takes place, and by resources we mean the whole discussion on what should be done with resources that can be found on other celestial bodies, including the Moon. What can we do with lunar regolith? What should we do if we mine asteroids? Can those resources be brought back to the Earth, commercially appropriated, and so on and so forth. All of these questions are difficult questions because they actually shine a spotlight on some of the fundamental principles in the Outer Space Treaty, which says that space is for all humankind. 

So, the commercial angle is not obvious there, and that's a difficult discussion. And COPUOS is looking at potentially making some guidelines around that. Similarly, in the scientific and Technical Subcommittee, we received a proposal to start a consultative mechanism on sustainable lunar activities, and we hope that it will be signed off eventually in June at the plenary meeting, and that perhaps it might result establishing an action team to look at the more practical aspects of safety and sustainability. 

Even if we have a large space faring country going to the Moon or we have other smaller nations sending their missions to the Moon, neither of them wants to interfere with the other or crash into the other. It's very important that we don't have just bilateral engagements between individual countries, but that there is a global convening dialogue. And that's where we as UNOOSA leverage our unique convening power of the United Nations to keep everybody at the table and make sure that we continue to have these discussions – even if they are difficult – to hopefully advance on them. 

We have taken the initiative to organize a United Nations conference – the first one – on sustainable lunar activities. When we discuss important matters where you are debating on what the right answer should be, what are the critical issues are by specific caused by innovative activities like lunar activities , it’s important that they are discussed in Vienna. Because Vienna is where the decision makers on precisely these matters convene. At that conference, we hope to just explore what can we do to enhance the global dialogue at a multilateral level through the UN. 

UN News: Speaking about the use of the outer space, it's fair to say that there is now a major pollution problem. What is space debris? Why is it dangerous and what is being done to minimize its risks? So what's the UN angle here? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  When we talk about pollution in space, there's different angles that you can come at it from. One of them is, of course space debris, and there are different issues around space debris. One is, there are so many pieces or objects out there of all different sizes. And we do not necessarily have a comprehensive understanding of where they all are, at what time, and so on.

So, it's very important that we collaborate to pool knowledge and capabilities around this area here to enhance space safety for all actors: whether we think of satellite communications or imagery, which we rely on for climate change and climate monitoring, or whether we think of space science and the complex telescopes and instruments which are being placed into space. Debris is an issue for all of them. 

It's also a very important issue for human spaceflight. So, what are we doing? We have the ongoing discussions on long term sustainability guidelines, the COPUOS Member States are reflecting on what new guidelines could be potentially added to those which there and at UNOOSA level. We will be convening later on this year, a United Nations Space Bridge around space situational awareness, which is created to bring different pockets of actors and different systems and providers who are out there together to see how can we facilitate coordination. How can we potentially imagine a ‘system of systems’ approach? 

We don't know what format it will ultimately take. And UNOOSA is not on a mission to turn the UN into some kind of a global space agency or have an operational activity here. Our job is to convene, to lead by convening, and we hope that we can facilitate progress through the dialogues that we that we help create. 

And if I can also just bring your attention to something else which is more of an emerging problem. It is around the topic of atmospheric ablation, a relatively new science. You know that there are many more launches happening into space than there were ten years ago. The question is what impact do the launch fumes have on the atmosphere? But also we have a lot more debris and old satellites which are being burned up in the atmosphere on re-entry. A lot, significantly more than there were some years ago. And so that also has an impact. 

We were approached by UNEP , the United Nations environmental program. And so, we are looking into that together and informing and educating ourselves around this emerging science. It may well be that we find that we're already in an urgent situation. We don't know, we don't know at this point. 

UN News: This brings me to the question about the Space4Climate Action initiative. What is it and why is it important? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  We run a program called UN-SPIDER that is space-based information for disaster and emergency response. We all know that the number of severe weather events, natural disasters and everything which is happening as. Result of climate change and global warming are increasing year on year. Multiple national disaster management centres. They are working with spider in order to do early warning, monitoring, mitigation and so on. Whether it's for floods, drought on the one hand, all the way to forest fires, mosquito borne diseases, locusts devouring a crop and causing famine in particular country, right, all the way across. 

No one apart from UNOOSA has as mission and priority to facilitate the access of satellite data, and to make sure how to use it. So, whereas for other entities and agencies, space is an enabler for their diverse missions, for us it is our mission. It is our priority in itself. We want to make sure that every Member State who needs it is empowered and equipped with the tools: the data and the know-how, the capacity that they need to be resilient in the face of all the global shocks that are coming, and particularly those which are linked to climate. That's the work we do there and that's going to grow. 

UN News: Speaking of being properly equipped, it comes with the human factor. Do you see enough enthusiasm on behalf of the young generation in space science? 

Aarti Holla-Maini:  Yes, there is a Space Generation Advisory Council which convenes youths from all over the world, and they are very active. They are very concerned with the issues that are confronting us. Whether it's enabling space to deliver on the sustainable development goals like global healthcare, education for all, climate change and so on, or whether it's to do with space sustainability, we do see a lot of engagement with them. One of the programs that we run is Space for Women and we try to motivate the younger generation – girls and women – to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 

We do have examples of great women who are breaking the glass ceiling: they're in leadership position across different parts of the space ecosystem. But there's not enough to pick from in the engineering schools and so on. So, it starts with the youth, and I think we probably need to do a lot more to encourage young women to look into getting into the STEM fields, but also simply to think that it doesn't matter whether you are technical and mathematical and scientific in terms of your skill set. I'm not. I'm certainly not. My skills are softer skills, it's languages, it's interpersonal communication skills. You know, I did a degree in law with German law and then I did an MBA. 

There is room for a very diverse skill set from the youth and we just need to raise awareness of all the different avenues and possibilities that exist within the space sector to show that this is not just for the geeks and the nerds who like engineering. It's really not about that. There's room for musicians, lawyers, artists – anything you can think of – to be part of this very dynamic and innovative sector, which is so exciting today. 

Technological advances have transformed space exploration, making it more accessible but also more commercially driven, a senior official with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has been telling UN News, ahead of the international day that marks the first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961. 

Thanks to private capital, missions to study the Moon have surged, accompanied by a significant rise in space launches over the past decade. 

But these developments raise questions about the regulations governing space, increasing space pollution and diversity within space agencies, UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini , tells Anton Uspensky.