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Space-A Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Take a Flight on a Military Hop

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What Are Space-A Flights (AKA, Military Hops)?

Are you eligible for a space-a flight, how does space-a travel work.

1. Identify Your Destination and Possible Routes

2. Follow the Space-A Flight Schedules of the Passenger Terminals You May Use

3. sign up to travel from all possible starting locations, 4. mark yourself present within 24 hours of roll call, 5. listen for your name during roll call, 6. check your luggage and obtain your boarding pass, 7. board the aircraft and pick your seat, what to expect on a space-a flight, pros and cons of flying space-a, the pros: what are the advantages of flying space-a, the cons: what are the disadvantages of space-a, when should you use space-a, what would a seasoned space-a traveler recommend.

Update: On April 22, 2022, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense lifted all restrictions on Space-A travel. These restrictions were put in place in March 2020 to limit the spread of Covid-19. Mask mandates and medical screening protocols may still apply.

Looking for a way to save money on travel ? Flying space-available (Space-A) on a military flight can be a fun and inexpensive way to see the world, as airfare to and from U.S. military bases can cost you next to nothing.

Flying Space-A on military aircraft is very different from using commercial air travel, and you can’t just call a military passenger terminal and book your flight. It’s worth learning how Space-A travel works so you can take advantage of this incredible privilege available to eligible members of the military community.

After military flights accommodate all required passengers and cargo, they often release extra seats to service members, retirees and their families. These eligible passengers can “hop” on the flights on a space-available (Space-A) basis. This is where the term “military hop” comes from.

Because these are military, not commercial, flights, the military mission is always the priority. You may fly on a commercial plane, but you could also be in a cargo plane or fuel tanker.

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There are six categories, or “cats,” of eligible Space-A travelers, depending on their duty status and the reason they are traveling.

Those in lower-numbered categories receive higher priority for available seats.

Here is a summary of the Space-A travel categories, according to the Military OneSource website :

Cat 1: Emergency leave unfunded travel

Cat 2: Accompanied environmental and morale leave (EML)

Cat 3: Ordinary leave, service members’ relatives, house-hunting permissive temporary duty (TDY), Medal of Honor holders , and foreign military; also includes unaccompanied dependents of service members deployed for more than 365 consecutive days.

Cat 4: Unaccompanied EML; also includes dependents of service members deployed between 30 and 364 consecutive days

Cat 5: Permissive TDY (non-house-hunting), student travel, and post-deployment/mobilization respite absence; also includes unaccompanied dependents of service members stationed outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS)

Cat 6: Military retirees, their dependents, military reserve, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) members and veterans who are 100% disabled

It is important to know your category when planning your Space-A travel because your category determines when you can sign up, what paperwork you need, and where you are eligible to fly. Table 3 in Section 4.11 of Department of Defense Instruction 4515.13 has more details on eligibility by category and approved geographical travel segments.

Eligibility Note for Veterans with a 100% Disability Rating :

According to the AF.mil website , “veterans with a service-connected, permanent disability rating of 100 percent will be able to travel in the Continental United States or directly between the CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa (Guam and American Samoa travelers may transit Hawaii or Alaska); or traveling within Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands on flights operated by Air Mobility Command.”

Disabled veterans must have a DD Form 2765, Defense Department ID Card (Tan), to fly Space-A.

The better you understand how to fly Space-A, the greater your chances of having a successful trip.

The first step is to learn which bases have regular flights to where you want to travel. This list of worldwide destinations where Space-A travel may be available includes profiles of some of the terminals and information about typical flight destinations. You’ll want to begin following some of their Space-A flight schedules, which we’ll discuss in the next step.

You may find several possible routes to your desired destination. For example, if you are on the East Coast and want to fly to one of the common destinations, including Spain or Germany, you will likely be able to travel from several nearby bases. Travelers from other parts of the U.S. may need to take two or more hops to get there.

The Space-A Travelers Facebook group can help you put together a flight plan to your destination. You can ask questions and find information about flying to and from specific locations.

You may have to combine Space-A travel with other transportation. For example, you may need to fly or drive to a base with regular Space-A flights to your desired destination. Or you may need to take a train or flight from an overseas base to your final destination.

The Air Mobility Command website maintains a list of all the military passenger terminals , as well as their contact info and links to their websites and Facebook pages.

You’ll find a 72-hour flight schedule for most terminals on their Facebook pages or the AMC website. The schedules include trip destinations, the number of Space-A seats and the “roll call” time. The roll call time is when terminal staff announces who has been selected for the flight.

You may also find information about recently departed flights, including how the number of Space-A seats and how many passengers competed for those seats.

Click here for more details on how to read the Space-A schedules on Facebook .

When you monitor the flights that depart from your target passenger over several weeks or months, you’ll notice patterns in the location and frequency of their missions.

Determine all the terminals you could depart from to reach your desired destination. You’ll increase your chances of success by signing up to fly from all of them. Signing up is free and takes only a few minutes.

The AMC website details the sign-up options, including the required information. You can sign up through their website, by email or in person at the terminal. You can also use the Take-A-Hop app (which costs $6.99). If you’re signing up for several terminals, email and the Take-A-Hop app are the easiest ways to do so.

The sooner you can sign up, the better, as priority within each category is based on the sign-up date and time. So sign up as early as possible. At most terminals, your sign-up is valid for up to 60 days.

Keep in mind that your category may affect how early you can sign up for Space-A travel. For example, active-duty service members (Cat 3) must be on leave before they can sign up. Those in Cat 3, however, have precedence over those in Cats 4 through 6, regardless of when they signed up.

You must mark yourself present at the terminal before roll call to let the staff know that you are competing for the flight. You can do so anytime within 24 hours of the scheduled roll call. Note: roll call times can change unexpectedly, so continually monitor the terminal’s 72-hour flight schedule to ensure you get there in time or, better yet, call the terminal to confirm.

Bring your military ID and any necessary documents, such as your passport, your leave form or your EML orders. If you are an unaccompanied dependent, you’ll need a memo from your sponsor’s command. Also bring a copy of your sign-up email as a backup to prove your sign-up date and time.

At roll call, terminal staff will announce how many Space-A seats are available for the flight and then the names of the selected passengers, beginning with those in the highest-priority category.

If they call your name, go to the desk and confirm that you and any dependents traveling with you are present. You’ll need to show your military ID and any required paperwork, as well as ID cards for passengers older than 10 years old. For younger passengers, bring their passports or MilConnect printouts that show the Department of Defense ID numbers.

If they don’t call your name, don’t leave the terminal just yet. Sometimes last-minute Space-A seats become available, so stay at the terminal until boarding time.

Once you and all members of your traveling party, along with all your luggage, must be present when the baggage check begins. This may be right after roll call, or it may be several hours later. You will need to stay in the terminal, as boarding times, like roll call times, can change without notice.

The AMC website’s FAQ page includes detailed information on baggage allowances. Because smaller aircraft may have different weight limits for luggage, it’s best to check ahead of time.

You will generally be allowed to check two pieces of luggage weighing up to 70 lbs each. Similar to many commercial flights, you can also bring one piece of carry-on luggage that fits under your seat or in the overhead compartment. You can usually check car seats and strollers, and they won’t count toward your baggage allowance.

AMC terminals follow the Transportation Security Administration’s baggage screening guidelines , so check their website ahead of time to see what you can bring in your carry-on bag, and what you must put in checked luggage.

Check if meals are available on the flight, as you’ll pay for these when you check your luggage. Some locations offer simple box lunches for a nominal cost.

If you are flying Space-A on a Patriot Express flight , your boarding pass will list your assigned seat.

When terminal staff announces boarding, you’ll go through security and wait in a secure area. With most flights, a bus will take you to the aircraft, and you’ll board from the tarmac.

On most Space-A flights, you’ll choose your seat when you board. On Patriot Express flights, your boarding pass will list your assigned seat.

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Patriot Express flights offer amenities, including meals and in-flight movies.

Other Space-A flights do not. Snacks and water may be available, but it’s best to be prepared and bring your own.

Seating depends on the type of aircraft. Some have seats that are comparable to commercial airlines. Others have web seating along the sides of the plane. If this is the case, you can stretch out if there’s room.

Patriot Express flights are climate-controlled, but other military aircraft are not. They are often cold or hot, so dress in layers. They can also be loud. The crew usually provides foam earplugs, but it’s a good idea to bring your own.

There are advantages and disadvantages to Space-A travel.

Space-A flights can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars over commercial airlines, which is a clear advantage. The only costs you might incur are a low per-passenger fee on Patriot Express flights, and you may be able to purchase low-cost meals at some terminals that offer meals for purchase.

When you land, you’ll be able to access base resources, including overnight base lodging and the commissary. You may even be able to purchase discount tickets to local events and attractions through the base’s Information, Tickets and Travel office (ITT).

Being able to stretch out on some aircraft can be another advantage over flying economy in a commercial plane.

If you’re traveling with small children, you may also find that other passengers are more supportive than with a commercial airline.

And, of course, there may be a greater sense of adventure with Space-A travel.

Free or low-cost air travel
Access to base amenities (Base Exchange, Commissary, MWR, ITT, etc.)
Possibly more space to spread out compared to commercial airlines
It’s an adventure!

Space-A travel is less predictable than flying commercially. Passenger terminals post flight schedules only 72 hours in advance, and you won’t know if you got a seat until the last minute.

Peak travel times, including summer, winter holidays, and even spring break, are even more competitive. You may need to be more flexible about when you travel and even where you’ll go.

You may incur other costs with Space-A travel, such as transportation to the base you’ll be flying from. You may need to wait for a flight home–possibly for days–and the costs of lodging and meals can quickly add up.

Finally, Space-A travel, unless you’re on a Patriot Express flight, is bare bones. You may find it cold, loud, and uncomfortable.

Travel and schedules can vary.
Seats aren’t guaranteed — you must have flexible travel plans!
Travel can be difficult during busy times (summer PCS season, holidays, etc.).
Lodging, meals and transportation costs can add up.
Military aircraft can be cold and uncomfortable.

If you have the time, flexibility, and patience to wait for a flight, Space-A travel can offer you an adventure while saving you a lot of money. If you’re traveling for an event, such as a wedding, and must arrive by a specific time, Space-A is not the best way to travel, especially if it’s during the peak seasons of summer, winter holidays, and spring break.

Flying Space-A requires planning, patience, and flexibility. Learn as much as you can about the process, and also research desired destinations and passenger terminals so that you can put together a successful flight plan.

When you are ready to leave, make sure you always have a backup plan and ensure you have enough money to pay for commercial transportation if Space-A doesn’t work out. Also, be prepared for a multi-legged journey–several shorter hops that bring you closer to your destination rather than one long direct flight.

About Post Author

Stephanie Montague

Stephanie Montague is the founder of Poppin’ Smoke , a website designed to encourage members of the military community to use their military benefits for travel. Stephanie and her husband have been traveling the world since he retired from the Army in 2015. Through Poppin’ Smoke, Stephanie shares everything they learn about Space-A travel and using military benefits while abroad.

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Posted In: Military & Veterans Benefits

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ray maring says

December 29, 2023 at 9:17 am

Thank you for hosting this information. I am a guardsman, retired and are interested in traveling now.

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Space A Travel: Everything You Need To Know

Julie Provost

What is Space-A Travel?

Table of Contents

Space-A is being able to travel on DOD aircraft for free or at a limited cost. The flights you take are on a space-available basis, and the number of passengers they take will depend on the flight. Space-A can get you to many different places worldwide, but some locations are more challenging to fly to than others.

When you fly Space-A, you have to do some planning and research. You must know which Space-A category you fall into and what that will mean for flights. You will need to make sure you are eligible and have all the right paperwork. You can travel with children, but you do need to be prepared for the whole trip, and that might be more difficult than flying commercially.

What Are the Different Categories for Space-A Travel?

Those who are eligible for Space-A typically fit into one of six different categories. These categories help determine how likely it is that you can fly.

Category I : Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel- For emergency situations only.

Category II: EML (Environmental Morale Leave) for Active Duty and dependents.

Category III: Active Duty Ordinary Leave- This category also includes those on Terminal Leave as well as their accompanied dependents, those on House Hunting Permissive TDY, Medal of Honor Holders, and dependents of deployed service members as long as they are deployed for 365 consecutive days or more. It is important to note that these dependents will be selected behind active duty members no matter when they sign up.

Category IV: Unaccompanied Dependents on EML or dependents whose sponsor is deployed between and including 30-364 days as well as DODDS teachers on EML during the summer.

Category V: Unaccompanied command-sponsored and non-command-sponsored dependents of active duty, permissive TDY (non-house hunting), and students.

Category VI: 100% disabled veterans. Retirees as well as their accompanied Dependents, reserve, ROTC, NUPOC, and CEC. The DoD adds, “Surviving Spouses of service members who died while on active duty, inactive duty training, or annual training status. as well as retired military members, and their accompanying dependents.”

Can Retirees Fly Space-A?

Retired military members who are issued DD Form 2 and eligible to receive retired or retainer pay may use Space-A travel according to the Air Mobility Command Space-A official site.

RELATED : Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space-A

Are You Able to Travel Without Your Service Member?

Only eligible dependents whose service member is stationed overseas can travel unaccompanied and would do so as CAT-V, with some CONUS restrictions. Those whose service member is deployed for 30 days or more may travel unaccompanied anywhere that Space-A is allowed at a CAT-III, after active duty, or CAT-IV, based on how long they are deployed, as mentioned above. If your spouse is not deployed and stationed in CONUS, you can not use Space-A unless you are with your service member.

What About National Guard or Reserve Members?

At press time, Space-A travel is authorized for National Guard/Reserve components/members of the Ready Reserve and members of the Standby Reserve who are on the Active Status List.

What Do You Have to Do to Get On A Flight?

The first step is get authorized to travel on Space-A. This means starting leave if you are on active duty or getting a travel letter if you are an unaccompanied dependent. If you are a retiree, you should be authorized when you are ready to start the process.

Sign up and register at the locations you plan to travel to and from. You can do this at some terminals through an online form, in person, by email, or by fax. This signing up doesn’t mean you are on a flight or have an exact flight time. What you will be doing is getting assigned a date and time. This will put you in front of anyone in your category who has a later date and/or time than you do.
Sign up as soon as possible for as many places as you think you might go. If you are unsure where you will be flying from, sign-up for all potential places. You don’t want to sign-up too far in advance so that your sign-up expires before the date you want to fly. For active duty, you should sign-up as soon as your leave starts, and that sign-up should last until your leave is over. For non-active duty, sign-ups are valid for 60 days.
Each sign-up location is independent. Call to verify that you are signed up and carry a printed copy of your emails verifying you have done so. That way, you can show that you should be on any list you need to use to travel.

Showing Up for a Flight

Show up before any potential flight you want to take. Flights will get posted, and you can make your plan from there. You need to mark yourself “Present” for the flight you want to go on. This tells the terminal that you are there and will be ready to fly when the time comes.
When exactly you are marked “Present” doesn’t matter as far as where you are in line; the date and time of when you signed up does, but you would need to be marked present within 24 hours of flight time.
It is a good idea to get to the terminal, ready to fly with all of your bags and paperwork, about an hour before what is called “Show Time.” You would then mark yourself “Present” by checking in at the desk and wait until “Show Time.” At this point, you do not want to leave the area, even to grab a bite to eat. Times can change, and you want to be ready if that happens.

Show Time and Roll Call

“Show Time” is when “Roll Call” can begin, and it is about 2-3 hours before it would be time to fly. You need to be aware of when “Show Time” is supposed to start, as well as what time you would fly if you make it on the flight. Always give yourself extra time.
“Roll Call” is going to be when the date and time you “signed up” for that location and the category you are in come into play. With “Roll Call,” they start with CAT-I and go through all the way until CAT-VI or until they fill all the seats. For example, someone in CAT-IV, who signed up on June 1st at 10:30 am will be ahead of someone who signed up for CAT-IV, on June 1st, at 11:30 am. All of CAT-IV would be ahead of all of CAT-5. They might just have 10 seats, or they might have 50 seats, it depends on the flight, aircraft, and how much space they actually have on the flight.
You will need to be right there during “Roll Call.” If you are somewhere else, and they call your name, and you don’t check-in, you will not make it on the flight. You will need to be travel-ready when this happens.
Being “Manifested” means you are selected for a flight, and you will be going on this flight unless the flight itself is canceled or you get bumped for cargo. This is where you want to be.
You can also be “Manifested Through,” which means you won’t have to compete for a seat on your second flight. However, you need to make sure you are “Manifested Through” to your end location. This, however, does not mean you have your round trip covered. You will have to compete for seats on your return trip.

How Much Does Space-A Travel Cost?

Many Space-A flights are free; however, if you take a Patriot Express flight, you may be charged a head tax and inspection fees. Bring cash for this flight, you may not be permitted to pay using a credit card.

You may also need to have extra money for possible stays in hotels, extra food, or even money for transportation. Because some flights get canceled, or it can be hard to get on right away, you might have to wait near the terminal for a few nights.

How Many Bags Can You Bring?

For Space-A, the nature of the mission determines how much baggage can be loaded. On some flights, you may be allowed to bring two pieces of luggage each, not to exceed 70 lbs. For others, there may be a requirement for the bags to be under 30 lbs.

Where Can You Go For Extra Help?

The Air Mobility Command website – This is where you can read information about how Space-A works, sign up for flights, and more.
SpaceA.net – An informational site about the ins and outs of Space-A travel.

Other Tips For Flying Space-A?

The main thing you need to remember is that Space-A is going to require some planning. You will need to spend some time researching where you will go, how many flights they have, and how easy it might be for you to get on a flight. Certain times of the year are busier than others, and you must bring your patience.

Flights can get delayed for days. You might go through the entire process and end up on a flight, only to have to get off and start all over again because there is something going on with the plane. You need to plan for if your first idea doesn’t work out.

There are a lot of benefits to flying Space-A. You can see the world and can do so without having to spend a lot of money, but you have to understand that you will have to work for it. Some flights will be easier than others, and you just never really know what you will find when you attempt to fly Space-A.

If you need to reach your destination by a certain date, Space-A might not be the best way to get there. Unlike a commercial airline, you are not guaranteed a time and a place to fly. Being flexible and understanding is a must. If you can go into Space-A with that mindset, you can enjoy everything Space-A has to offer.

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Space-A Flights: 7 Things You Need to Know

One of the most beneficial services available to military service members is Space-A (Space Available) travel.

Sadly, it is not used nearly as much as it could be because of the mystery of how to use it, the requirements and people just not knowing about it.

So, what are Space-A Flights?

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Table of Contents

What Are Space A (Available) Flights?

Space-A flights are low-cost or free flights for service members, retirees, and their family members on military aircraft based on the “Space Available” on the flight.

Basically, the military has many flights each week to support its mission worldwide.

Some flights, such as the Patriot Express, leave from Seattle, Washington, to the Asia Pacific, are like commercial flights, while others are on tactical aircraft.

With Space-A flights, you need to be flexible with your travel timelines, and there are a few documents that need to be filled out.

Additionally, there are other obstacles you may face, such as your travel eligibility and seat priority.

I have compiled a list of 7 things you need to know about Space-A Flights to demystify the process and get you traveling on a budget.

#1. Process

The process for applying for Space-A flights is pretty simple, but there are a few things that you need to consider to take full advantage of the program.

There are six travel eligibility categories that you must fall under to use Space-A.

Each travel category has a priority assigned to it, and they will ticket passengers based on available seats and their priority.

You should review the available destinations from your local AMC Passenger Terminal.

There are 16 CONUS locations and many more worldwide.

Luckily, most passenger terminals now have Facebook pages with their 72-hour flight schedules.

The locations can be found at AMC Travel Site at the bottom of the page.

Specific documents are required based on the location you want to travel to.

Documents include passports, leave forms, unaccompanied dependent forms, visas, military orders, travel request forms, and other AMC-required forms.

Dependents 10 years old or older also must possess a valid military ID.

Always contact your local AMC Terminal ahead of time to ensure you have everything, or they will turn you away even if a seat is available.

You will always register with the AMC terminal that you will use since HQ AMC is not a part of the sign-up process.

This includes the terminal you are departing from and the location you are returning from.

So, make sure you contact both terminals.

This can be done via email, in person, or through the Space-A Travel Registration form: Space Available Email Sign-up Form .

The form is good for 60 days or until your leave expires.

Active duty service members must be on a leave status throughout the process.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, please get in touch with the terminal directly and provide them with a copy of your request form.

Flight Schedule

After registering for a flight, make sure you continue to monitor the schedule through the AMC Passenger Terminal Facebook page and make sure you are present when the roll call is conducted.

#2. Travel Eligibility

Now that we have reviewed the process, let us discuss the travel eligibility categories.

Category I passengers have the highest priority, while Category VI passengers are the lowest.

Category I – Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel.

It is reserved for emergency travel when an immediate family member is seriously ill, passed away, or impending death.

Category II – Accompanied Environmental and Morale Leave.

EML is divided into two categories: Unfunded (UEML) and Funded (FEML).

UEML uses military aircraft, while FEML uses commercial transportation because military aircraft are unavailable.

Service members must be assigned to specific overseas installations to apply for this.

Category III – Ordinary Leave, Relatives, House Hunting Permissive TDY, MOH Holders & Foreign Military

Most service members will fall under Category III because it is used for leave, house hunting, dependents when a member is deployed for more than 365 days, and dependents who are accompanied by the service member to and from overseas locations.

Category IV – Unaccompanied EML

It is like Category II, except it is used for dependents of military members who are deployed for over 30 consecutive days.

Category V – Permissive TDY (Non-House Hunting), Students, Dependents, Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence & Others

Unaccompanied command-sponsored dependents, students whose service member is stationed in Hawaii or Alaska, and military members traveling on permissive TDY orders.

Category VI – Retirees, Reservists, 100% Disabled Veterans, and Surviving Spouses of Deceased Service Members/Retirees

Category VI is the lowest priority for Space-A travel and includes National Guard and Reservists, retired military members and their spouses when accompanied, 100% disabled veterans, and surviving spouses.

#3. How to Look for A Flight

Your best source for flight information is through the AMC Passenger Terminal.

Their Facebook pages contain the 72-hour flight schedules, including the roll call times and the seats available.

The terminal may also provide additional flight schedules outside of the 72-hour window.

When flying from Seattle to Okinawa, Japan, for example, they provided me with a schedule past the 72-hour window.

#4. Preparing for Your Flight

2 citizens looking at space a flights schedule

Having all your paperwork on point is essential to fly Space-A.

Review all your paperwork, make sure any forms filled out by the service member’s command are signed by the appropriate commander level, and have all of your passports available.

AMC will not accept the paperwork if a form is not signed by the appropriate command level.

Family Members and DoD civilians on official travel to Germany, Japan, and the Republic of Korea must have a Special Issuance Passport (SIP) or apply for one and have a regular tourist passport if the SIP is unavailable before travel.

#5. Pros and Cons of Space-A Travel

There are many advantages to traveling Space-A, but there are a few things to consider when applying for it.

Advantages of Space-A Travel

The most significant advantage is that Space-A is free except for traveling on the Patriot Express, where you pay a small fee.

The Patriot Express is like a commercial flight, where you will have a standard seat, food and drink services, and in-flight entertainment.

Disadvantages of Space-A Travel

Nothing is guaranteed with military travel.

Schedules change constantly, flights get canceled at a moment’s notice, and the process can be time-consuming.

When you sign up for Space-A travel, you are not signing up for a seat, but rather, you are signing up for the opportunity for a seat.

You may show up for your flight and wait several hours to be told that you have not been accepted because of the space available and your priority.

Do not expect your flight to be smooth on military aircraft; it may be loud, hot, cold, or the seat may not be comfortable.

Even if you can fly to a location, it does not guarantee a flight back because of availability and priority.

#6. Traveling Without Sponsor

Many people do not know that a dependent over 18 can fly Space-A without their sponsor.

You first need a letter from the sponsor’s command authorizing you or your dependent to fly Space-A.

The following categories allow you to fly Space-A without a sponsor:

Deployed Sponsor: Over 30 consecutive days or 365 days for category III.
Unfunded Environmental and Morale Leave: Available based on location.
Command Sponsored Dependent: The dependent and sponsor are stationed overseas. Not authorized CONUS to CONUS.
Non-Command Sponsored Dependent: The Sponsor is stationed overseas, and the dependent is not.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local AMC Terminal for more information if you have any questions or concerns.

#7. Other Things to Know

There are a few miscellaneous things to consider when using Space-A to ensure you are properly prepared for your trip.

Pets are only authorized for PCS moves, and aircraft have minimal space.

I can speak from my experience of traveling to Japan with my dog.

Since Japan is a rabies-free country, there are many different forms and vet visits you need to complete to have your animal come to Japan.

The process should start several months before the PCS date and include a quarantine period for your furry friend.

Even if you make it to your destination, you may not have a flight back.

When planning your trip, ensure you have enough money for a return flight, lodging, and food.

I would also suggest packing a small jacket in your carry-on if it gets cold.

Non-Patriot Express flights do not have food or drink services, so bring some snacks and beverages.

Also, if you have children, bring some entertainment, such as a few downloaded movies.

Space-A travel is an excellent benefit that you can enjoy to explore the world.

You will have an excellent trip with proper planning and expectation management.

Paperwork and timeliness are king for AMC Passenger Travel Terminals.

Get your paperwork completed and submitted and show up on time, and you will have a smooth trip if space is available for your flight based on your category.

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Related articles you might be interested in:, 2 replies to “ space-a flights: 7 things you need to know ”.

Thanks! I’m a medically retired disabled veteran, and have always “known” about these flights but never really looked into them, nor knew anything about them. If I had known EVEN PART of the information you provided, I’d have had my wife and son join me when I was in Korea, instead of flying back to the states. I now plan on trying to utilize them for my wife and myself, but since it seems that I’m now the lowest category, I might just have to be a bit more patient/flexible than I’d be otherwise…but free/low-cost flights? Yes, please. I wish I’d have seen this article YEARS ago. Thanks again!

No problem Chad, glad to help!

Rob V. OMK Owner / Founder

Frequently Asked Questions About Military Space-Available (Space-A) Travel

Find the answers to your Space-A travel questions here!

>> Get the full scoop on using Space-A flights and lodging with our free 45-page Guide to Military Space-A Travel.

Contents (click to expand)

1. How does Space-A flying work?

Read this Quickstart Guide to Space-A Flights to get a detailed overview of the entire Space-A flying process.

2. How much do Space-A flights cost?

There is no charge to fly Space-A except for on Patriot Express (PE) flights . Space-A passengers pay a small per-person tax on the PE.

Some terminals offer box lunches for purchase. They usually cost $5 – $10 and are distributed onboard the aircraft.

3. Who is eligible to fly Space-A?

Visit the Air Mobility Command website for a list of eligible travelers.

To learn more about how priority for Space-A passengers is determined and which passengers have restrictions on where they can fly, read this section of our Quickstart Guide to Space-A Flights.

4. Is Space-A travel open for retirees?

Yes. Space-A reopened for all categories of travelers in April 2022.

Click here for Space-A signup tips for retirees .

5. Can 100% disabled veterans fly Space-A?

Yes. Veterans who are not retired from the military and have a permanent service-connected disability rated as total (and their accompanying dependents) can fly Space-A within the contiguous United States (CONUS) and to/from Hawaii Alaska, Guam, and other U.S. territories. They cannot fly Space-A to, from, or within foreign countries.

6. Can retired military dependents fly Space-A?

Yes, but only when accompanied by their sponsor.

7. Can widows fly Space-A?

Yes, surviving spouses of deceased service members/retirees can fly Space-A, but only within the contiguous United States. They are in Category 6.

8. Can civilians fly Space-A?

Certain DoD civilians employees and their dependents stationed overseas are eligible to fly Space-A. Consult DoD Instruction 4515.13 Air Transportation Eligibility for details.

9. How do I sign up to fly Space-A?

You can sign up via e-mail, fax, using the Take-a-Hop app, or through the Air Mobility Command website’s online form . You can also sign up in person at the terminal.

Active duty can sign up as soon as they are on leave.

Retirees and 100% disabled veterans (Category 6) can sign up a maximum of 60 days prior to the date of travel. Click here for detailed information about Category 6 signup.

Signup rules for unaccompanied dependents vary by situation and are explained here .

10. What should I bring on a Space-A flight?

This Space-A Packing List explains what to wear and what to bring on a Space-A flight, including required documentation.

11. Where can I find Space-A flight schedules?

Most military passenger terminals post their Space-A flight schedules on their respective pages on the Air Mobility Command website. You can also obtain flight schedules by calling the terminal directly.

Scroll down to the Passenger Terminal Directory on the Air Mobility Command Travel Page to see a list of all terminals and their contact information, including links to their web pages.

Click here to get step-by-step instructions for finding flight schedules and a detailed guide that explains how to read them.

12. What bases have flights to [insert destination]?

Poppin’ Smoke has detailed guides to many of the top Space-A locations. The guides explain what bases have flights to and from the location as well as information about lodging, ground transportation, and other important topics.

Click here for a list of Poppin’ Smoke’s Space-A Location Guides .

13. How do I fly Space-A on the Patriot Express?

The process for flying Space-A on the Patriot Express (PE) is the same as for any other Space-A flight. The main difference is that PE schedules are available for one month at a time, whereas schedules for other Space-A flights are available up to 72 hours in advance.

Click here for more information about flying Space-A on the PE, including a list of all PE routes worldwide.

14. As a spouse, can I fly Space-A without my sponsor?

Spouses of active duty service members who are deployed 30+ days or stationed outside of the contiguous U.S. (OCONUS) are eligible to fly Space-A.

Click here to learn where you can fly, what paperwork you need, and how to sign up.

15. Do you have any advice for flying Space-A with children?

Yes! Here are 12 Tips for Flying Space-A With Kids .

16. Can I fly Space-A between Europe and Asia?

Yes, but generally, you must travel via the United States. Missions usually do not fly directly between the Pacific and European theaters of operation.

We flew Space-A from Japan to Germany in March 2019. Here are our lessons learned .

17. Is flying Space-A worth it?

Yes, if you know when (and when not) to use it. It’s most challenging to get a seat on a Space-A flight during the summer PCS season (generally mid-May to mid-September) and any other time that schools are on vacation, particularly the winter holidays .

You can improve your chances of having a successful Space-A journey by following our tried-and-true tips and strategies .

18. How does Space-A lodging work?

Find everything you need to know in Space-A Lodging: Eligibility & Reservation Tips .

19. How do Space-A travelers arrange lodging without knowing when they will arrive?

We usually wait until we land to book lodging, and we always find a last-minute room. You can also make a reservation in advance once you are manifested on a flight, but don’t forget to guarantee it for late arrival and cancel it if the flight doesn’t work out.

You should never make any non-refundable reservations based on your expected arrival on a Space-A flight.

Click here for more information about how to arrange lodging when flying Space-A to Europe .

20. What facilities can I use on bases overseas?

It depends on the country. Base access is subject to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the United States and the host country.

On most U.S. military bases overseas, retirees and active duty who are not stationed in the host country can stay in base lodging and use Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities, such as the fitness center, golf course, and Outdoor Recreation. On bases in Japan and Korea, they also have commissary and Exchange privileges, but in some European countries, privileges are restricted.

The AAFES website has more detail about who can use the Exchange in each country. Commissary privileges general follow suit.

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Space-A Travel: Amazing Benefit, Facts & Eligibility

What is space-a travel.

Space Available Travel, most often called Space-A Travel, or even military hops, is part of the Space-A program that fills remaining seats on Department of Defense flights at low or no cost to the veteran flying! The program is run by the Air Mobility Command (AMC). The network includes flights through:

Continental U.S.
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
American Samoa

There are also a few Naval Aviation and Air National Guard Units that offer flights in this program.

*Resource: Save this list of participating terminals.

Things to Know About Space-A Travel & Flights

There are several important things to remember when utilizing Space-A travel:

Patience is a must. Last minute changes may occur, which can mean a sudden schedule change or a seat becoming unavailable. If this occurs, the veteran should be prepared with a backup plan. This can mean flying commercially and paying for the airfare, in order to make it to the destination on time.
There are categories for Space-A flights. The categories (see the next section for these) are a priority list of who will get available seats first. It’s a first-come, first-served based on categories when seats on these DOD flights are open.
Flights can be reviewed at AMC terminals. The flights don’t offer much advance notice, as leftover capacity is determined as time draws closer to the flight. A 72 hour window is the most likely timeframe.
Some AMC terminals on military bases or commercial airports have a Facebook or other social media page with the schedule. It’s worth looking for that to see information on seats available.
You must complete a Space-A travel form. You can access the form here . Print this form and bring it with you to the terminal, even if you email or fax it.

Who Qualifies?

As a veteran, category 6 is where you’ll find out if eligible for Space-A travel and flights. See the full list of categories on the AMC page .

Category 1: Emergency Leave Travel

Family members of these employees who need to get overseas for the emergency
Military family members needing to travel for an emergency that exists overseas
Paid, full-time American Red Cross personnel who serve overseas with the US Military

Category 2: Accompanied Environmental & Morale Leave (EML)

Sponsors (a military member or civilian employee with dependents) and family members who are on EML
DOD Dependent School teachers and family members in EML status during school year holiday or vacation periods

Category 3: Ordinary Leave, House Hunting

Military personnel who are on ordinary leave; military patients who are on convalescent leave
Military personnel who are on permissive temporary duty (TDY) orders for house hunting that accompanies permanent change of station (PCS) orders; can be accompanied by one family member
The dependents of a military personnel who has been deployed for 365+ consecutive days
Family members (up to age 23 w/ID card) of a military member when accompanied by their sponsor who is in an ordinary leave status between overseas and CONUS

Category 4: Unaccompanied Dependents on EML

The dependents of a military personnel who has been deployed for 120+ consecutive days
If under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by an adult family member who is traveling EML
DoDDS teachers/family members in EML status during summer break

Category 5: Permissive TDY, Students, Dependents, Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence

Unaccompanied command-sponsored dependents
Students with a sponsor who is stationed in Alaska or Hawaii
Students enrolled in school INCONUS and sponsor is stationed overseas
Military personnel traveling on permissive TDY orders other than house hunting

Category 6: Retirees, Dependents, Reservists & Disabled Veterans

Family members are eligible if they have an ID card and travel with retired service member
Dependents must be accompanied by the veteran and travel must be in CONUS or directly between the CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories
National Guard, Reserve components, members of the Ready Reserve and members of the Standby Reserve who are active status
Dependents can travel with the surviving spouse

Frequently Asked Questions for Space-A Travel

pexels victor freitas 1381415 Space-A Travel: Amazing Benefit, Facts & Eligibility

Additional Resources

You can download the Military Space-A Travel Sign-up Take-a-Hop app through the App Store or Google Play
Read Military.com’s post on Tips for Space-A Travel
Space-A Travel is just one of many benefits you may have access to as a veteran! Learn more about benefits on our Understand Your Service-Connected Benefits blog post.

While the extra benefits and perks are great, what’s most important is making sure you are accurately rated by the VA. The vast majority of veterans we work with are NOT accurately rated. Use the button below to contact an amazing member of our team. The free consultation will help us quickly identify if you’re eligible for our services. If you are not eligible, we will suggest other methods that may help.

Army Wife Network

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Military Space A Travel: Is it Worth It?

My husband originally joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard. In 2001, he went off to basic training and AIT. When 9/11 happened, he was at basic training in the woods of Fort Benning. He didn’t find out about the atrocities that had happened until later.

As you can imagine, he was fired up and ready to deploy. After training, he went back home where he worked multiple civilian jobs, including as a beekeeper and fitness instructor in addition to his National Guard responsibilities.

At one drill weekend, they asked for volunteers to deploy. He immediately signed up. Young and ready to fight, he immediately thought he was going into the thick of war. Instead, he was assigned to a security mission for three years at an air base just 50 minutes from his hometown.

This turned out to be a turning point in his career. It’s where he learned about the Active Guard Reserve program (which he has been a part of for 15 years), and it’s where he was introduced to the Space A program.

What is Space A?

It stands for Space Availability, and it’s the program the military uses to offer extra passenger seating on flights. It’s variable and unpredictable. It can be a headache. But, it also can be exciting and enjoyable and can help stretch your vacation budget.

Most often, these flights are free. Occasionally, there is a small fee if the plane is a contracted flight (once we had to pay $7 per person, but that can vary).

Active-duty personnel and retirees are both eligible to fly. There is a ranking system, so people who are on emergency leave have top priority. You can read details on the tiered structure here . We’ve always flown in Category III because my husband is still active duty. Some National Guard and Reserve members are eligible, but I’m not as familiar with how it works.

I have never flown on my own, as a dependent without my spouse, because I just haven’t been in the position to need to travel Space A without him. If I’m flying on my own, it’s usually to visit my sisters in Florida and I set up google flight tracker to get the best price. If you have experience here, we’d love to hear it!

Why Try Space A?

We’ve flown Space A many times. The air base nearest to us is a National Guard base, so honestly, not many people are familiar with their flights. They generally have a flight that goes to Hawaii that fits in our schedule every few years. We always aim for that flight! We try to share this perk with our local military friends, because it’s too good to miss out on.

In addition to being free, a perk of flying Space A includes a more relaxed atmosphere than flying commercial airlines.

Yes, you still have to abide by the TSA rules and go through some form of security check. But, you experience travel like none other. Often you ride a bus across the tarmac, climb up steps, you might have to sit in cargo jump seats, or if there’s enough space, they put in the real seats. That’s always a treat!

We’ve always flown out of Milwaukee on a KC-135 refueling plane. They’re huge. We’ve played catch in the open space, driven matchbox cars for hours, played silly games—all of which make traveling Space A with children a major positive.

Plus, you have to wear ear protection, so for an introvert, hours of white noise is a vacation within itself!

Sometimes when there’s space, they let us stretch out on the cots or even check out the view from the Boom Operator’s spot. We have a special place in our hearts for the Milwaukee Air National Guard flight crews; they always treat us well.

Space A Travel gave my son the chance to look through the boom operators window.

We’re always looking for ways to use Space A Travel. Once, we hopped a flight from Milwaukee to Travis Air Force Base. From there, we planned on hopping a flight to Hawaii (I know, we have a problem, but we really love Hawaii !). The flight we were on ended up with a maintenance issue, delaying our flight by one day.

We could have easily hopped that flight the next day, but after weighing our options, we decided we wanted to maximize our vacation time. Instead, we passed on the Hawaii flight and toured Napa, Sonoma Valley, and San Francisco with our son who was about 2 at the time.

Was it what we had planned? No. Was it still a fantastic vacation? Yes ! It’s why I recommend Space A. Travel, in my mind, should be a little about the actual adventure and Space A gives us the confidence to try something a little risky and through the risk, gives us confidence to really explore.

We always build in two or three days at the end of our trip so we can be sure to catch a flight home. If we catch one the first day, then we just enjoy getting back early enough to catch up on laundry and get back into our routine. If we don’t catch a flight that first day, we take that extra day of vacation and spend it well (being at the air terminal so early means you usually have a full day ahead of you!).

We’ve experienced the frustration of showing up at 5 a.m., only to not catch a flight that day. We’ve also experienced getting stuck in a waiting room for many, many hours while they attempt to fix a plane. It tests your hurry-up-and-wait game, but if you’re up for an adventure, it’s worth it every time.

I think that’s the attitude you need to take when flying Space A. I realize it can be more stressful when you’re PCSing. However, if you’re using Space A for vacation, take on an adventurer mindset.

Among the tips we’ve picked up over the years, one of the top tips is to follow air terminals on Facebook. Watching their flight schedules over time will help you have an idea of where their flights go on a regular basis and approximately how many spaces are usually available. Here’s a link to Travis Passenger Terminal to get you started. Once you start liking pages, more similar pages should show up.

This travel isn’t for everyone. But I believe military families, overall, possess a spirit to which no civilians can compare, so we’re afforded opportunities that civilians might not take.

My son has flown on a KC-135! None of his classmates have had that experience. He’s a great traveler, and I’d take him anywhere, in large part because of the patience he’s developed from traveling Space A. He’s a more well-rounded kid because of the military.

When I have tough days, I try to remind myself of the good things that the military has brought into our lives.

A few more Space A tips:

• Be patient. Like everything military-connected, there’s a lot of hurry up and wait.

• Bring some warm clothes or a blanket. Sometimes the flights are very chilly.

• Wear tennis shoes or closed-toe shoes. Safety first! Pack the cute shoes in your luggage.

• Take snacks and pack a lunch.

• Pack empty water bottles to fill after passing through security

• Bring your own ear protection. It may be more comfortable than foam ear plugs.

Still not convinced? Just give it a try! Watch the postings, ask your spouse to get his leave forms together, call to sign up, and set your alarm early.

Have you traveled Space A? I’d love to hear more. Where are you headed? What’s your favorite passenger terminal? Any tips or tricks you can share? Comment below or start the conversation on Facebook! We want to hear your experiences!

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Jolene McNutt

Jolene McNutt is a writer, editor, and graphic designer. She co-owns a business with her retired teacher dad creating hands-on resources for elementary and middle school teachers. Jolene has been married to her extroverted husband, Phil, for more than 11 years! Phil recently jumped ship as an AGR soldier in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and re-enlisted in the Big Army with 17 years of active duty service. Jolene and Phil have an elementary-aged son, Finn, who loves legos, math, and reading. Jolene enjoys traveling, reading, and making allergy friendly recipes for Finn. Despite her introverted nature, Jolene loves hosting friends and family. You can find her volunteering or playing with a pup or two during her spare time. Find her on Instagram @jolenemichelle1.

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“Exploration is in our nature.” - Carl Sagan

The Planetary Society • Aug 30, 2021

Why space exploration is always worthwhile

Your guide to advocating for space in a complicated world.

Most people who love space and believe in exploration have probably heard this once or twice: “We shouldn’t waste money on space exploration when there are problems to deal with here on Earth.”

While public health concerns, social injustices, climate change, and other urgent issues are important to address, solving these problems doesn’t depend on defunding space programs.

This can be a difficult conversation to navigate, so we’ve outlined a few ideas here that you can share when advocating for space.

Space research isn’t as expensive as people think

Many countries around the world invest in space science and exploration as a balanced part of their total federal budget. Public opinion research has shown that people estimate NASA to take up as much as a quarter of the U.S. federal budget, but in fact, NASA’s budget only represents about 0.5% of the total federal budget and the proportion is even smaller for other spacefaring nations . The correct information may go a long way to reassuring critics that space spending isn’t eating up as many public resources as they think.

The United States government spent approximately $6.6 trillion in fiscal year 2020, of which just 0.3% ($22.6 billion) was provided to NASA. In this chart, shades of blue represent mandatory spending programs; shades of orange are discretionary programs that require annual appropriations by Congress. "Defense and related" includes both the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Source: Office of Management and Budget Historical Tables 8.5 and 8.7.

Space spending pays off

If someone is arguing that public funds should be spent on solving the world’s problems, they should know that money spent on NASA positively impacts the U.S. economy . We get the same kind of payoff for space spending in other countries. Spending on space supports highly skilled jobs, fuels technology advancements with practical applications, and creates business opportunities that feed back into the economy. This in turn grows the pool of public money that can be spent on solving the world’s most pressing problems.

Space research directly impacts Earthly problems

When people apply themselves to the challenges of exploring space, they make discoveries that can help the world in other ways too. Studying how we might grow food in orbit or on Mars yields insights into growing food in extreme conditions on Earth , generating knowledge that can help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Medical research conducted on the International Space Station helps us understand the human body in new ways, helping save lives and improve quality of life .

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Studying space helps us understand our own world

Studying the cosmos gives us an important perspective shift. When we learn about what lies beyond Earth, it gives us context for understanding our own planet. Studying the other worlds of our solar system and beyond makes it clear that Earth is a precious oasis for life. When we sent spacecraft to Venus we saw how a runaway greenhouse effect turned the world from a habitable planet to an absolute hellscape. When astronauts travel into space they see just how thin and tenuous Earth’s atmosphere is, appreciating the fragile balance in which we live . A cosmic perspective underscores the importance of protecting our planet’s habitability and encourages investment in that effort.

Studying space may one day save us all

All the social and environmental progress in the world won't help us if an asteroid impacts the Earth. We have to explore space to find and study the asteroids and comets in our cosmic neighborhood if we want to make sure we can defend our planet if an object ever heads our way.

Space is inspiring

Not every child who dreams of becoming an astronaut will get that opportunity. This is a sad truth that many of us know from experience. But to be inspired to aim for something so grand gives kids the motivation to study hard and gain skills in science, engineering, medicine, or other fields that benefit humanity and directly help overcome problems that we face as a species.

And inspiration isn’t just for kids. When we marvel at the beauty of Jupiter’s clouds or the mystery of Enceladus’ oceans , we get an opportunity to appreciate the wonder and majesty of this cosmos that we inhabit. The idea that life might exist elsewhere in the universe reminds us that we might not be the only planet struggling to achieve balance, justice, and sustainability. And even in the bleakest of times, there’s something beautiful about still striving to achieve something great and discover something that could change how we see ourselves and our cosmos forever.

There’s plenty of room at the table

There’s no denying that there are many important issues facing humanity that need fixing. But to deal with those problems doesn’t mean we have to stop looking up, stop exploring, and stop making discoveries.

Human civilization has astonishing capacity, and we can do more than one important thing at a time. If someone thinks that a particular issue should get more attention and investment, they can and should advocate for that. The problems we face don’t persist because we’re spending money on space science and exploration. And there’s no reason to pit our aspirations against one another.

Let’s Go Beyond The Horizon

Every success in space exploration is the result of the community of space enthusiasts, like you, who believe it is important. You can help usher in the next great era of space exploration with your gift today.

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Why We Should Be Spending More on Space Travel

L et’s stipulate one thing: there’s absolutely no reason for us to go to space. It does nothing to feed us, to clothe us, to protect us, to heal us. It’s dangerous and hideously expensive too, a budget-busting luxury that policy makers and administrators have spent decades trying to defend—always unsuccessfully because the fact is, there’s no practical defense for it. So stand down the rockets, take down the space centers, pocket the money and let’s move on. Still want the adventure of going to space? That’s what they make movies for.

Now that we’ve established that, let’s stipulate the opposite: Space is precisely where the human species ought to be going. We accept that we’re a warring species. We accept that we’re a loving species. We accept that we’re an artistic and inventive and idiosyncratic species. Then we surely must accept that we’re a questing species. Questing species don’t much care for being stuck on one side of an ocean and so they climb aboard boats—indeed they invent boats—to cross it. They don’t much care for having their path blocked by a mountain and so they climb it for no reason other than finding out what’s on the other side. Accept that, and you can’t not accept that we have to embrace space.

April 12 marks the 60th anniversary of the day Yuri Gagarin became the first human being in space , taking off in his Vostok 1 spacecraft, spending 88 minutes making a single orbit of the Earth, and returning home to a species that seemed forever been changed by his efforts. The date will mark, too, the 60th anniversary of the by-now familiar argument that journeys like Gagarin’s and all of the ones that followed achieve nothing that can be touched and pointed to as a practical dividend of the effort made and the resources expended.

I found myself turning the old debate this way and that over the last week, when I was reading a column in the Guardian with the provocative headline, “Revive the U.S. space program? How about not,” by essayist Nicholas Russell. It opens with a mention of Gil Scott-Heron’s 1970 spoken word poem, “Whitey on the Moon,” which compellingly lamented the hard social truth that the U.S. was spending $24 billion in 1960s money on the Apollo program at the same time 10% of Americans were living in poverty, with Blacks suffering at three times the rate of whites.

“Was all that money I made last year (for Whitey on the moon?)” Scott-Heron wrote. “How come there ain’t no money here? (Hm! Whitey’s on the moon.)”

Russell goes on to cite the estimated cost of the new Artemis lunar program , which some analysts have placed at $30 billion; the role—a troubling one as he sees it—of the military in so many space projects, and the ongoing scourge of racism and inequality on Earth that persists while we still keep looking spaceward. Then he mentions, by way of caution, a University of Arizona proposal to send seed, spore, sperm and egg samples of 6.7 million terrestrial species to the moon as a sort of space ark in case life on Earth should come to an end. “When the vastness of space is cited as a means of escape from disaster, it’s exceedingly difficult not to believe nihilism acts as the prime motivator,” Russell argues. “Rather than sparking inspiration, it speaks of blatant fatalism about what is worth saving, a preference for the lofty and unpopulated … with delusions of innovation and heroism.”

Russell is right about some things—especially about the continuing blight of racism. But expenditures on space and expenditures on social programs have never been a zero-sum proposition, any more than any dollar the U.S. government spends on anything at all—the military, farm subsidies, tax cuts for corporations—is by definition a dollar not spent on something else. And the Artemis price tag is indeed high—but only if you look at it as a standalone figure. In the context of the federal budget? NASA funding currently accounts for just 0.4% of the total the government spends each year—down from 4% in the golden era of Apollo. The military’s role in the space program is inevitable, even if Russell sees it as regrettable. Rockets are rockets, after all, and physics is physics, and if the first machines that blasted humans off the Earth were originally designed as ballistic missiles, well, that was what the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. had on the shelf. What’s more, every Soviet R-7 rocket or American Atlas that was used to send an astronaut or cosmonaut to orbit was one fewer that could be used in a theater of war.

And as for that space ark? Well yes, it does suggest a certain fatalism. But the fact is, we are eminently capable of screwing the global pooch, to paraphrase the old Mercury astronauts. Unless you’re confident that no autocrat or hermit king with nuclear weapons and a button in reach won’t do something impulsive, storing the Earth’s genetic essence for safekeeping does not seem like a completely insane idea.

That doesn’t mean space exploration is inherently nihilistic, however. Look at the old footage of the global reaction to the Apollo 11 moon landing . Watch the worldwide relief when the Apollo 13 crew —three people the vast majority of the planet had never met—made it home safely. Consider the reaction today when a rover lands on Mars or a spacecraft whizzes past Pluto or a pair of women aboard the space station perform the first all-female spacewalk.

Yes, we can live without traveling to space. Indeed, we did perfectly well over all of the millennia that preceded April 12, 1961. We can meet most of our needs when we stay on Earth—we can raise our families and earn our salaries and feed our bellies. But we feed something less literal, more lyrical when we extend ourselves as far as we can. Once that meant crossing an ocean. Now it means more. Space is out there—and we should be too.

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Is Space Tourism Worth It?

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Key Takeaways

Space tourism currently caters primarily to the ultra-wealthy, with Virgin Galactic's early ticket sales priced between $200,000-$450,000, and Blue Origin selling a seat for $28 million in a charity auction.
Critics argue that the funds for space tourism could be better utilized for addressing Earth's problems, while others counter that space exploration has historically led to beneficial technologies like memory foam and insulin pumps.
People have raised environmental concerns regarding the carbon footprint of space flights, with some spacecraft engines contributing to black carbon pollution, though companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are exploring sustainable fuel options.

This month, space launches have grabbed the headlines with a fervor reminiscent of NASA in its glory days of Apollo 11 and the moon landing. But unlike 50-plus years ago when those historic events took place, today's stories focus on an entirely different group of people reaching to the edge of space (and beyond): billionaire investors who have funded their own space companies.

Each with its own objective, Elon Musk 's SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies), Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic are pushing progress in space technology and especially space tourism – the idea that ordinary citizens can visit space as a tourist destination – at a pace not seen before.

But is space tourism a good thing that benefits humankind? Or does the current billionaire "space race" signal the end of times as massive wealth is spent with no benefit to any but those with enough commas in their net worth?

The History of Space Tourism

Criticisms of space tourism, benefits of space tourism.

Space tourism is actually not a new or even a 21st-century concept . NASA envisioned the possibility of space tourism back in the 1970s. Early designs for the space shuttle ( dating to 1979 ) included a configuration that would allow up to 74 passengers space in the cargo bay for larger crews and even tourism flights.

Some of the earliest nongovernmental astronauts were actually corporate-sponsored – talk about a work benefit! These included Germany's Dr. Ulf Merbold, MIT engineer Byron Lichtenberg, both of whom served as mission specialists on STS-9 in 1983, and McDonnell Douglas employee Charles Walker, who flew on STS-41-D in 1984 . This helped inspire confidence in NASA's Space Flight Participant program , of whom Christa McAuliffe was set to become the first astronaut and first teacher in space. Unfortunately, the program – and the entire shuttle program – was set back with the 1986 Challenger disaster.

Space tourism may have been postponed, but it wasn't abandoned. At the turn of the century, self-made millionaires including Bezos and Branson both set their sights on building their own space companies to offer tourism opportunities as NASA focused on governmental and research objectives. Two decades later, the technology has finally developed such that both companies – Bezos' Blue Origin and Branson's Virgin Galactic – have launched their founders into suborbital space in quick succession.

Space tourism was initially a hopeful concept, one focused on increasing access for ordinary citizens to visit space. However, the modern space tourism industry looks different as early ticket sales by Virgin Galactic ranged from $200,000-$250,000 ; Blue Origin has not announced ticket prices, but it recently sold one seat for $28 million as part of a charity auction. This obviously prices access to space well outside the range of all but the ultra-wealthy; it's one of the primary criticisms of space tourism today.

Part of the reason spaceflight is so expensive is that just a few people are carried at a time. "If you want to get to get the price from $250,000 down to four digits, like an airline, you have to spread it over far more bodies," Ron Epstein, an aerospace analyst with Bank of America told CNN . But it might be decades before companies get to that point. The costs for fuel and energy currently don't make it feasible to offer space travel to large numbers of people.

Another complaint is that the funds spent on spaceflight might be better spent elsewhere such as solving problems here on Earth. Alan Ladwig, author of " See You in Orbit? Our Dream of Spaceflight ", says this commentary is not without basis – or historical precedent as people said the same thing about NASA. "There has been criticism that money spent in space would be better applied to other societal needs. This has been a matter of debate for a range of space activities for the past 60 years and is not likely to change regardless of what happens with space tourism," he says. And several items we take for granted like memory foam, insulin pumps and scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses, came from NASA inventions .

Finally, space tourism (and launch technology in general) is criticized for its environmental impact . "The most often talked about 'harm' involves pollution caused by black carbon from some spacecraft engines," Ladwig explains. "Virgin Galactic has downplayed this problem [saying its impact on climate change is minor and that it] also plans to invest in sustainable fuels for the future. Blue Origin's engines rely on liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen that combusts as water vapor. However, critics note that it still takes electricity to manufacture the fuels."

Right now, the number of flights to space are few, so carbon dioxide emissions are negligible, compared with airplane flights. But what happens when that number increases? Virgin hopes to have 400 flights a year by the end of the decade, the Wall Street Journal reported . And unlike the other two companies, SpaceX will achieve orbit when it takes four private citizens into space in September using its F9 rocket, which "calculations show puts out the equivalent of 395 transatlantic flights-worth of carbon emissions," reported Phys.org .

Boosters of space tourism say we don't know yet what positives may come out of going to space for recreation.

"Those who go will have a transformational experience that will lead to new ways of thinking of our home planet, how they interact with others, and develop a commitment to improving life on Earth," says Ladwig. "It remains to be seen what innovations, creations, and advances in knowledge might result from new categories of space travelers, but expectations are high."

Additionally, space tourism will be good business – both in space and on Earth: "A number of economic analysts have predicted that global space tourism could grow to $1.7 billion by 2027 . That would generate a significant number of new jobs and capabilities in the emerging space tourism economy," says Ladwig.

It's important to note that these launches are not one-off stunts. Some 600 people have been confirmed for Virgin Galactic flights in the future; the company hasn't even sold tickets since late 2018 and has registered over 8,000 interested potential buyers since then.

There's a long road ahead from early flights like recent ones to a sustainable, widespread space tourism industry that more people can afford. "Historically, wealthy individuals have always been the early adopters of new endeavors, adventures and transportation capabilities," says Ladwig. "The 'benefit' of their participation is to demonstrate that the experience has value, is something people are willing to support, and brings significant public attention to a new industry."

Only with that attention and funding can these companies – or their successors – hope to offer widespread and mass market-friendly flights to space, but it's an exciting prospect even if in the distant future.

While many consider it otherwise, Elon Musk's SpaceX is not actually a space tourism company. While they have offered private flights and have permission to fly commercial passengers to the International Space Station , the company objectives are focused on Mars colonization and making humans a multiplanetary species. If wealthy customers are willing to pay to help advance that mission, Musk is generally willing to accept the funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The Future of Space Tourism Is Now. Well, Not Quite.

From zero-pressure balloon trips to astronaut boot camps, reservations for getting off the planet — or pretending to — are skyrocketing. The prices, however, are still out of this world.

By Debra Kamin

Ilida Alvarez has dreamed of traveling to space since she was a child. But Ms. Alvarez, a legal-mediation firm owner, is afraid of flying, and she isn’t a billionaire — two facts that she was sure, until just a few weeks ago, would keep her fantasy as out of reach as the stars. She was wrong.

Ms. Alvarez, 46, and her husband, Rafael Landestoy, recently booked a flight on a 10-person pressurized capsule that — attached to a massive helium-filled balloon — will gently float to 100,000 feet while passengers sip champagne and recline in ergonomic chairs. The reservation required a $500 deposit; the flight itself will cost $50,000 and last six to 12 hours.

“I feel like it was tailor-made for the chickens like me who don’t want to get on a rocket,” said Ms. Alvarez, whose flight, organized by a company called World View , is scheduled to depart from the Grand Canyon in 2024.

Less than a year after Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson kicked off a commercial space race by blasting into the upper atmosphere within weeks of each other last summer, the global space tourism market is skyrocketing, with dozens of companies now offering reservations for everything from zero-pressure balloon trips to astronaut boot camps and simulated zero-gravity flights. But don’t don your spacesuit just yet. While the financial services company UBS estimates the space travel market will be worth $3 billion by 2030, the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to approve most out-of-this-world trips, and construction has not started on the first space hotel. And while access and options — not to mention launchpads — are burgeoning, space tourism remains astronomically expensive for most.

First, what counts as space travel?

Sixty miles (about 100 kilometers) above our heads lies the Kármán line, the widely accepted aeronautical boundary of the earth’s atmosphere. It’s the boundary used by the Féderátion Aéronautique Internationale, which certifies and controls global astronautical records. But many organizations in the United States, including the F.A.A. and NASA, define everything above 50 miles to be space.

Much of the attention has been focused on a trio of billionaire-led rocket companies: Mr. Bezos’ Blue Origin , whose passengers have included William Shatner; Mr. Branson’s Virgin Galactic , where tickets for a suborbital spaceflight start at $450,000; and Elon Musk’s SpaceX , which in September launched an all-civilian spaceflight, with no trained astronauts on board. Mr. Branson’s inaugural Virgin Galactic flight in 2021 reached about 53 miles, while Blue Origin flies above the 62-mile mark. Both are eclipsed by SpaceX, whose rockets charge far deeper in to the cosmos, reaching more than 120 miles above Earth.

Balloons, like those operated by World View, don’t go nearly as high. But even at their maximum altitude of 18 or 19 miles, operators say they float high enough to show travelers the curvature of the planet, and give them a chance to experience the overview effect — an intense perspective shift that many astronauts say kicks in when you view Earth from above.

Now, how to get there …

Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, which are both licensed for passenger space travel by the F.A.A., are open for ticket sales. (Blue Origin remains mum on pricing.) Both companies currently have hundreds or even thousands of earthlings on their wait lists for a whirl to the edge of space. SpaceX charges tens of millions of dollars for its further-reaching flights and is building a new facility in Texas that is currently under F.A.A. review.

Craig Curran is a major space enthusiast — he’s held a reserved seat on a Virgin Galactic flight since 2011 — and the owner of Deprez Travel in Rochester, N.Y. The travel agency has a special space travel arm, Galactic Experiences by Deprez , through which Mr. Curran sells everything from rocket launch tickets to astronaut training.

Sales in the space tourism space, Mr. Curran acknowledges, “are reasonably difficult to make,” and mostly come from peer-to-peer networking. “You can imagine that people who spend $450,000 to go to space probably operate in circles that are not the same as yours and mine,” he said.

Some of Mr. Curran’s most popular offerings include flights where you can experience the same stomach-dropping feeling of zero gravity that astronauts feel in space, which he arranges for clients via chartered, specialized Boeing 727s that are flown in parabolic arcs to mimic being in space. Operators including Zero G also offer the service; the cost is around $8,200.

You can almost count the number of completed space tourist launches on one hand — Blue Origin has had four; SpaceX, two. Virgin Galactic, meanwhile, on Thursday announced the launch of its commercial passenger service, previously scheduled for late 2022, was delayed until early 2023. Many of those on waiting lists are biding their time before blastoff by signing up for training. Axiom Space, which contracts with SpaceX, currently offers NASA-partnered training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. Virgin Galactic, which already offers a “customized Future Astronaut Readiness program” at its Spaceport America facility in New Mexico, is also partnering with NASA to build a training program for private astronauts.

Would-be space tourists should not expect the rigor that NASA astronauts face. Training for Virgin Galactic’s three-hour trips is included in the cost of a ticket and lasts a handful of days; it includes pilot briefings and being “fitted for your bespoke Under Armour spacesuit and boots,” according to its website.

Not ready for a rocket? Balloon rides offer a less hair-raising celestial experience.

“We go to space at 12 miles an hour, which means that it’s very smooth and very gentle. You’re not rocketing away from earth,” said Jane Poynter, a co-founder and co-chief executive of Space Perspective , which is readying its own touristic balloon spaceship, Spaceship Neptune. If all goes according to plan, voyages are scheduled to begin departing from Florida in 2024, at a cost of $125,000 per person. That’s a fraction of the price tag for Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, but still more than double the average annual salary of an American worker.

Neither Space Perspective nor World View has the required approval yet from the F.A.A. to operate flights.

Unique implications

Whether a capsule or a rocket is your transport, the travel insurance company battleface launched a civilian space insurance plan in late 2021, a direct response, said chief executive Sasha Gainullin, to an increase in space tourism interest and infrastructure. Benefits include accidental death and permanent disablement in space and are valid for spaceflights on operators like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, as well as on stratospheric balloon rides. They’ve had many inquiries, Mr. Gainullin said, but no purchases just yet.

“Right now it’s such high-net-worth individuals who are traveling to space, so they probably don’t need insurance,” he said. “But for quote-unquote regular travelers, I think we’ll see some takeups soon.”

And as the industry grows, so perhaps will space travel’s impact on the environment. Not only do rocket launches have immense carbon footprints, even some stratospheric balloon flights have potentially significant implications: World View’s balloons are powered by thousands of cubic meters of helium, which is a limited resource . But Ted Parson, a professor of environmental law at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that space travel’s environmental impact is still dwarfed by civil aviation. And because space travel is ultra-niche, he believes it’s likely to stay that way.

“Despite extensive projections, space tourism is likely to remain a tiny fraction of commercial space exploration,” he said. “It reminds me of tourism on Mt. Everest. It’s the indulgence of very rich people seeking a transcendent, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the local environmental burden is intense.”

Stay a while?

In the future, space enthusiasts insist, travelers won’t be traveling to space just for the ride. They’ll want to stay a while. Orbital Assembly Corporation, a manufacturing company whose goal is to colonize space, is currently building the world’s first space hotels — two ring-shaped properties that will orbit Earth, called Pioneer Station and Voyager Station. The company, quite optimistically, projects an opening date of 2025 for Pioneer Station, with a capacity of 28 guests. The design for the larger Voyager Station , which they say will open in 2027, promises villas and suites, as well as a gym, restaurant and bar. Both provide the ultimate luxury: simulated gravity. Axiom Space , a space infrastructure company, is currently building the world’s first private space station; plans include Philippe Starck-designed accommodations for travelers to spend the night.

Joshua Bush, chief executive of travel agency Avenue Two Travel , has sold a handful of seats on upcoming Virgin Galactic flights to customers. The market for space travel (and the sky-high prices that come with it), he believes, will evolve much like civilian air travel did.

“In the beginning of the 20th century, only very affluent people could afford to fly,” he said. “Just as we have Spirit and Southwest Airlines today, there will be some sort of equivalent of that in space travel, too. Hopefully within my lifetime.”

52 Places for a Changed World

The 2022 list highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places for a Changed World for 2022.

What’s Up in Space and Astronomy

Keep track of things going on in our solar system and all around the universe..

Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other 2024 event that’s out of this world with our space and astronomy calendar .

Scientists may have discovered a major flaw in their understanding of dark energy, a mysterious cosmic force . That could be good news for the fate of the universe.

A new set of computer simulations, which take into account the effects of stars moving past our solar system, has effectively made it harder to predict Earth’s future and reconstruct its past.

Dante Lauretta, the planetary scientist who led the OSIRIS-REx mission to retrieve a handful of space dust , discusses his next final frontier.

A nova named T Coronae Borealis lit up the night about 80 years ago. Astronomers say it’s expected to put on another show in the coming months.

Is Pluto a planet? And what is a planet, anyway? Test your knowledge here .

Space Tourism: Can A Civilian Go To Space?

2021 has been a busy year for private space tourism: overall, more than 15 civilians took a trip to space during this year. In this article, you will learn more about the space tourism industry, its history, and the companies that are most likely to make you a space tourist.

What is space tourism?

Brief history of space tourism, space tourism companies, orbital and suborbital space flights, how much does it cost for a person to go to space, is space tourism worth it, can i become a space tourist, why is space tourism bad for the environment.

Space tourism is human space travel for recreational or leisure purposes . It’s divided into different types, including orbital, suborbital, and lunar space tourism.

However, there are broader definitions for space tourism. According to the Space Tourism Guide , space tourism is a commercial activity related to space that includes going to space as a tourist, watching a rocket launch, going stargazing, or traveling to a space-focused destination.

The first space tourist was Dennis Tito, an American multimillionaire, who spent nearly eight days onboard the International Space Station in April 2001. This trip cost him $20 million and made Tito the first private citizen who purchased his space ticket. Over the next eight years, six more private citizens followed Tito to the International Space Station to become space tourists.

As space tourism became a real thing, dozens of companies entered this industry hoping to capitalize on renewed public interest in space, including Blue Origin in 2000 and Virgin Galactic in 2004. In the 2000s, space tourists were limited to launches aboard Russian Soyuz aircraft and only could go to the ISS. However, everything changed when the other players started to grow up on the market. There are now a variety of destinations and companies for travels to space.

There are now six major space companies that are arranging or planning to arrange touristic flights to space:

Virgin Galactic;
Blue Origin;
Axiom Space;
Space Perspective.

While the first two are focused on suborbital flights, Axiom and Boeing are working on orbital missions. SpaceX, in its turn, is prioritizing lunar tourism in the future. For now, Elon Musk’s company has allowed its Crew Dragon spacecraft to be chartered for orbital flights, as it happened with the Inspiration4 3-day mission . Space Perspective is developing a different balloon-based system to carry customers to the stratosphere and is planning to start its commercial flights in 2024.

Orbital and suborbital flights are very different. Taking an orbital flight means staying in orbit; in other words, going around the planet continually at a very high speed to not fall back to the Earth. Such a trip takes several days, even a week or more. A suborbital flight in its turn is more like a space hop — you blast off, make a huge arc, and eventually fall back to the Earth, never making it into orbit. A flight duration, in this case, ranges from 2 to 3 hours.

Here is an example: a spaceflight takes you to an altitude of 100 km above the Earth. To enter into orbit — make an orbital flight — you would have to gain a speed of about 28,000 km per hour (17,400 mph) or more. But to reach the given altitude and fall back to the Earth — make a suborbital flight — you would have to fly at only 6,000 km per hour (3,700 mph). This flight takes less energy, less fuel; therefore, it is less expensive.

Virgin Galactic: $250,000 for a 2-hour suborbital flight at an altitude of 80 km;
Blue Origin: approximately $300,000 for 12 minutes suborbital flight at an altitude of 100 km;
Axiom Space: $55 million for a 10-day orbital flight;
Space Perspective: $125,000 for a 6-hour flight to the edge of space (32 km above the Earth).

The price depends, but remember that suborbital space flights are always cheaper.

What exactly do you expect from a journey to space? Besides the awesome impressions, here is what you can experience during such a trip:

Weightlessness . Keep in mind that during a suborbital flight you’ll get only a couple of minutes in weightlessness, but it will be truly fascinating .
Space sickness . The symptoms include cold sweating, malaise, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Even experienced astronauts are not immune from it!
G-force . 1G is the acceleration we feel due to the force of gravity; a usual g-force astronauts experience during a rocket launch is around 3gs. To understand how a g-force influences people , watch this video.

For now, the most significant barrier for space tourism is price. But air travel was also once expensive; a one-way ticket cost more than half the price of a new car . Most likely, the price for space travel will reduce overtime as well. For now, you need to be either quite wealthy or win in a competition, as did Sian Proctor, a member of Inspiration4 mission . But before spending thousands of dollars on space travel, here is one more fact you might want to consider.

Rocket launches are harmful to the environment in general. During the burning of rocket fuels, rocket engines release harmful gases and soot particles (also known as black carbon) into the upper atmosphere, resulting in ozone depletion. Think about this: in 2018 black-carbon-producing rockets emitted about the same amount of black carbon as the global aviation industry emits annually.

However, not all space companies use black carbon for fuel. Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket has a liquid hydrogen-fuelled engine: hydrogen doesn’t emit carbon but simply turns into water vapor when burning.

The main reason why space tourism could be harmful to the environment is its potential popularity. With the rising amount of rocket launches the carbon footprint will only increase — Virgin Galactic alone aims to launch 400 of these flights annually. Meanwhile, the soot released by 1,000 space tourism flights could warm Antarctica by nearly 1°C !

Would you want to become a space tourist? Let us know your opinion on social media and share the article with your friends, if you enjoyed it! Also, the Best Mobile App Awards 2021 is going on right now, and we would very much appreciate it if you would vote for our Sky Tonight app . Simply tap "Vote for this app" in the upper part of the screen. No registration is required!

Scientists Are Getting Closer to a Real, Working Warp Drive

A crucial development is propelling engineers toward faster-than-light travel.

time warp, traveling at the speed of light with the colorful starburst

If humanity wants to be a spacefaring species, it needs to figure out how to travel faster than the speed of light.
Now, a new online toolkit — backed up by a $500,000 grant — will help engineers kickstart how humanity can achieve its faster-than-light dreams in reality.
This toolkit was created by Applied Physics, an international group of scientists, which hopes to also provide a "reality check" on warp drive concepts that rely on exotic physics.

The galaxy—let alone the universe—is a stunningly huge place. Containing anywhere from 100 billion to 400 billion stars (and by extension trillions of planets), the Milky Way is a stunning 100,000 light years across. That means a trans-galactic photon that just exited the Milky Way today likely began its journey when Homo sapiens had yet to migrate out of Africa, and that’s traveling at roughly 670 million miles per hour. Considering the velocity limitations of our rockets, it takes roughly half a human lifetime just to exit our solar system.

Simply put, if humans want to be a spacefaring species, we’re going to need something better than chemical — or even nuclear — rockets, and for decades, it’s science fiction that has held the answer. The most famous example is Star Trek , which relies on the power of its warp drive to traverse the galaxy in a fraction of the time. Galactic journeys that once took centuries could now be wrapped up in a couple of hours.

Scientists have longed for some sort of technology that can propel humans faster than what physics says is possible, and now a new online tool is helping engineers make a warp drive the sole property of Starfleet. Last week, Applied Physics, which is an international group of scientists and engineers, announced that they’d created an online toolkit for “analyzing warp drive spacetimes” called the “Warp Factory.”

“Physicists can now generate and refine an array of warp drive designs with just a few clicks, allowing us to advance science at warp speed," Gianni Martire, CEO of Applied Physics, said in a press statement . “Warp Factory serves as a virtual wind tunnel, enabling us to test and evaluate different warp designs. Science fiction is now inching closer to science fact.”

As Public Benefit Company, Applied Physics is ponying up $500,000 in potential grants for aspiring warp drive theorists. However, those grants come with a few caveats, mainly that the idea is to produce a physical warp drive based in classical relativity, which means not relying on “negative energy or superluminal matter” to make your time-bending engine work.

AP’s Christopher Helmerich, in an interview with The Debrief , also compared the Warp Factory as a “reality check” for warp drives as concepts can be analyzed in a comprehensive way and hopefully weed out ideas that have no chance of operating in the real world.

While a fully working warp drives has many hurdles to overcome, it’s a technology worth taking seriously. Because if humans have any hope of one day exploring distant stars, it’ll need the help of space-bending tech that the newly-minted Warp Factory hopes to nurture.

Darren lives in Portland, has a cat, and writes/edits about sci-fi and how our world works. You can find his previous stuff at Gizmodo and Paste if you look hard enough.

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The Pentagon Really Wants a Nuclear Spacecraft

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Cylinder on Australian Beach is Part of a Rocket

the nasa sr 71a successfully completed its first cold flow flight as part of the nasarocketdynelockheed martin linear aerospike sr 71 experiment lasre at nasa's dryden flight research center, edwards, california on march 4, 1998during a cold flow flight, gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen are cycled through the linear aerospike engine to check the engine's plumbing system for leaks and to check the engine operating characterisitics cold flow tests must be accomplished successfully before firing the rocket engine experiment in flightthe sr 71 took off at 1016 am pst the aircraft flew for one hour and fifty seven minutes, reaching a maximum speed of mach 158 before landing at edwards at 1213 pm pst"i think all in all we had a good mission today," dryden lasre project manager dave lux saidflight crew member bob meyer agreed, saying the crew "thought it was a really good flight" dryden research pilot ed schneider piloted the sr 71 during the missionlockheed martin lasre project manager carl meade added, "we are extremely pleased with today's results this will help pave the way for the first in flight engine data collection flight of the lasre"

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Business Class Seats - Worth It?

U sing credit card points and miles has opened my world to lie-flat business-class seats. Before I started this hobby, I had only flown in business class once. On impulse, I upgraded to business for about $800 to snag a same-day ticket when I was flying home from London. It was AMAZING! Obviously, you will use more miles/points to fly business class than in economy class or economy plus. So, my question is—are business class seats worth it?

When traveling solo or with my husband, it is totally worth it – especially for international travel. There is nothing like arriving freshly rested and ready to start your trip immediately because you slept well. International travel is long and hard on this old grandma’s body. Business class makes all the difference.

If your goal is to travel with your family, then you probably won’t be looking at a lot of business-class seats for a while. Traveling in economy class will let your miles/points go further. However, you have to try a business class at some point. I warn you, it will be hard to go back!

Because I do a lot of International travel, I like to save points for that. If I used 30,000 miles for a domestic round-trip ticket, I might save $500. However, using an average of 75,000 miles for a one-way business class ticket might save $3,000-$8,000. I tend to use a credit card that earns me a lot of points (like the AMEX Platinum ) to pay for that domestic flight.

Here are some of the reasons I save my miles for business class tickets:

In business class, you can have some amazing food. I have had some amazing cuisine on many flights and a few so-so meals. I remember the first time Alex flew with me on a business class on Turkish Airlines to Greece. She was amazed at every turn. We had an excellent meal, complete with little tea lights. We had appetizers, salad, and then the main course, all on nice china and served by a man in a chef’s hat. For dessert, they brought out a little trolley with many sweet choices. It was heavenly!

If you drink, you will get champagne or wine throughout your trip. I don’t drink, but enjoy my cranberry-sprite spritzer every time! I have heard that those who drink alcohol are pretty impressed with the choices in business class! Business class is certainly worth it for the meals and beverages served.

Room to Spread Out

There is nothing like having extra space for yourself. On many flights, you can pick a seat by the window that doesn’t have anyone near you. Even if there is a seat next to you, there is usually a partition you can pull up for sleep or privacy. I love the feeling of more space I get in business class.

A Good Night’s Sleep

Before using credit card points and miles, I often scrunched in a seat, trying desperately to sleep. I travel to London to visit family often and dealt with debilitating jet lag on many first days there. For anyone who has traveled internationally, this can ruin a trip. Now, I can get 6-8 hours of sleep and arrive in London or elsewhere rested and ready to hit the ground running. I love that on many flights, the attendant will make up my bed for me, and I can doze off after a movie and a good meal. I actually try and find longer flights so I can sleep more. A few airlines (EVA, for example, when I went to Thailand) give out pajamas.

Using a Business Class Airport Lounge

As you all know, I love a good airport lounge. My many credit cards let me use one almost every time I travel. The business class airport lounges take things to another level. One of my favorite airport lounges is the United Polaris Lounge . They are absolutely gorgeous! I can order off a menu in a sit-down restaurant and get an amazing meal, rest in a reclining lounger in a darkened cubicle, and take a shower in a beautiful bathroom.

I could have had a spa treatment when I used the Thai Airways business class lounge. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time but that is another great perk in some of the first or business-class lounges. Their decor and food are a notch up!

An Opportunity to Show Your Spouse Why You Use Credit Card Points

My husband doesn’t like to travel as much as I do. That works to my advantage because I can use his and my points/miles and travel in business class more often. The first time he traveled with me in business class was to Dubai . We flew to LAX first and went to the Emirates Lounge.

There, we had a delicious meal that included perfect beef filets. When we boarded our flight, my husband was so impressed with our seats, the meal on board, the bar in the back that served good snacks, and the great night’s sleep we had during a 19-hour flight that would have been horrible in economy class. After that he was 100% on board with traveling more in business class!

First Class

Obviously, I find it valuable to use my miles/points on business class seats. What about first-class seats? Honestly, I have used them for domestic first-class seats that are over 4 hours but often just save my points for business class. Having a domestic first-class/business seat isn’t that great because they are usually not lie-flat seats. Economy Plus works fine for me.

My first trip in international first class was on Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong to NYC when I found an unbelievable mistake fare. I was one of only 6 people in first class, and it was amazing. Seats were a little bigger, with total attention from the flight attendant and caviar as an appetizer. Since then, I have traveled in Singapore Suites, Emirates First Class, and Etihad Apartments , thanks to credit card points and miles!

Bottom Line

One of the reasons I use points/miles is the opportunity to book business class seats (and first class) and only pay taxes and fees. For under $100 a ticket (usually), I can get on a plane, enjoy a great meal, watch a movie or two, and settle down for a good night’s sleep. Traveling on a long flight and arriving rested is the ultimate luxury. Even if you want your points to last longer, you owe it to yourself to book a seat in business class sometime in your points and miles journey!

Using credit card points and miles has opened my world to lie-flat business-class seats. Before I started this hobby, I had only flown in business class once. On impulse, I upgraded to business for about $800 to snag a same-day ticket when I was flying home from London. It was AMAZING! Obviously, you will use more miles/points to fly business class than in economy class or economy plus. So, my question is—are business class seats worth it? When traveling solo or with my husband, it is totally worth it – especially for international travel. There is nothing like arriving freshly […]

10 Best Vacuum Storage Bags of 2024

Our top picks will increase your closet and suitcase space in minutes.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Our top picks:

Best Overall

Spacesaver vacuum storage bags.

GONGSHI Vacuum Storage Bags

Best for Travel

Ziploc space bag.

Top-Seller on Amazon

Cozy essential vacuum storage bags.

Best Variety Pack

Hibag vacuum storage bags.

Best for Bedding

Hefty shrink-pak vacuum storage bags.

Best for Stacking

Storage master jumbo vacuum storage bags.

Best Extra-Large

Vacwel vacuum storage bags.

Best Hanging

Taili hanging vacuum storage bags.

The best vacuum storage bags make the most of your space by removing the air inside and sealing it tight. Many use a vacuum or hand pump to suck out all the air, while some travel-friendly space bags can actually be hand-pressed shut. Because of this, they're great for packing out-of-season clothes, bedding and more into small spaces like under your bed or inside your suitcase .

After consulting our in-house experts and scouring online reviews, we've rounded up the best vacuum storage bags to shop on Amazon, starting at just $8 (with fast, free shipping to boot!).

The original Spacesaver vacuum storage bags are our top pick for heavy-duty storage needs where damage protection is imperative, like cross-country moves and travel. You can use either the included hand pump or your vacuum to reduce volume by up to 80%, according to the brand. Choose from small to jumbo sizes and variety packs for all your storage needs.

Reviewers appreciate its ease of use and sturdy plastic . "I'm moving all the way across the country and was stressed out wondering how much of my clothing I could actually take with me. These Space Saver bags are a life saver!" wrote one five-star reviewer . "They are so easy to pack, zip and vacuum out the air. One of my best purchases ever here on Amazon (and I've made thousands)."

Stow bulky bedding, sweaters, pillows and more with these space-saving storage bags. You can either use the included hand pump or a standard vacuum cleaner to compress each bag and reduce volume by up to 80%, according to the brand. For under $20, this pack comes with four bag sizes to store different items: the smallest size fits six to eight sweaters while the largest fits a queen-sized bedding set.

The triple-sealed valve is designed to keep bags airtight so your items stay condensed, and the double-layered material is designed to be puncture- and scratch-resistant, making it more durable against damage. "They're strong and sturdy," one Amazon reviewer said . "They have great sizes and storage space, and they hold the seal (some for a year now)."

Skip the checked luggage line at the airport with these travel-friendly storage bags. Forté named the Ziploc Space Bag a long-standing Lab favorite. There's no need for a pump or a vacuum to take the air out — simply fill each with up to five pounds of clothing or bedding, seal it with the Ziploc slider and fold to press out the air. It also costs under $10 for a pack of two.

Since they don't require any bulky equipment, these bags are a great option for users on the go. The brand claims the bags reduce the volume of clothing and bedding by up to 75%. They're also waterproof and airtight per the brand, meaning they should help protect your items from damage caused by travel and storage.

Boasting more than 38,000 five-star reviews and counting, Amazon's #1 best-selling space saver bags claim to shrink the size of your items by up to 80%. This variety pack includes 20 bags, making them great for anyone moving houses or with lots of vacuum storage needs. The pack includes standard vacuum-sealable bags as well as travel bags that can be rolled to press out air — no pump required.

Waterproof and reusable (purported by the brand), the bags' valves and seals are designed to prevent expansion and keep moisture and debris out. "The quality of these bags is outstanding," one online shopper wrote . "I feel confident storing my clothing, bedding and other textiles knowing they are safe and well-preserved."

Whether you need to increase your under-bed storage space or condense your clothes on the go, this pack offers the most variety with six different-sized bags for all your needs . The standard bags range from pouch-sized bags for lingerie and T-shirts to extra-large bags for bedding sets and pillows . Each waterproof bag has a handy line to show you where to stop filling them, making it more intuitive to pack than other options on our list.

While it can be sealed with the included hand pump or a vacuum, we love that the travel bags can be rolled to seal out excess air sans tool if needed. "These were a game changer during our move," an Amazon reviewer wrote . "The sizes vary drastically, accommodating many different types of items from quilts to pillows as well as clothes."

Hefty is known for its durable garbage bags and freezer bags, but the brand also has a line of high-rated vacuum storage bags. Including three large and three extra-large sizes, Hefty's Shrink-Pak bags claim to be waterproof and reusable season after season, so you don't have to worry about moisture, dust or bugs ruining your items. Plus, you can simply press the air out with your hands and seal.

We love how the extra large bags have a zipper on the long side rather than the shorter top, making it easier to pack bedding supplies like pillows and comforters. Shoppers agreed, with one writing : "We just went through a very long, drawn-out move and the shrink bags have been a true lifesaver! We were able to put lots of our clothes, towels and blankets in storage while we shopped for a new house. When we finally started unpacking, everything looked exactly the way it did when it was packed!"

Outfitted with a stylish plaid print, we wouldn't mind keeping these space bags out in plain sight. And it's not just for aesthetics. Their unique woven texture provides a bit of grip to their exterior, helping them to stay in place better while stacked. The bags come in four sizes and packs of six to 26, making them great for small organization projects and large undertakings.

Plus, they compress with a vacuum or its included pump. Reviewers appreciate the variety of sizes and ease of use, too. "I love these sealable storage bags!" one shopper wrote . "The quality is fantastic, very well-made and sturdy. I really like the assortment of colors and sizes, too, so much so that I ordered a second box!"

If you need to store cumbersome items like king-sized duvets, foam cushions or dog beds , Vacwel's XXL bags offer an impressive storage capacity of 47 by 35 inches . Featuring a nylon lining for extra durability, the brand claims these bags are waterproof and protect against dirt, bugs and dust. They even come with sticker labels to easily identify stored items.

"These bags are durable and got the job done," an Amazon shopper added . "I was able to vacuum seal large comforters and sheets! Very surprised at how many bedding items that I was able to put in the bags." Note that a pump is not included, so you'll need a vacuum handy to seal these bags.

Protect your out-of-season garments and make room for new pieces with these clever hanging storage bags on Amazon. You can stash up to five pieces of clothing inside each, including coats, jackets and suits . Just place one included hanger on each rotating ring, zip it up and vacuum all the air out. The vertical storage design keeps your clothes clean and organized until you're ready to wear them again.

"I get immense joy out of packing away my winter clothes in the Taili hanging bags," an Amazon reviewer said . "[It] shrink wraps everything into compact boards ... It was very easy and effective to use."

How we chose the best vacuum storage bags

With so many different options on the market, it can be difficult to determine which vacuum storage bags are worth buying. To help you find the right pick for your needs, we consulted our experts in the GH Institute Cleaning Lab and vetted customer reviews to bring you a range of vacuum storage bags that suit a variety of purposes.

How do you choose the best vacuum storage bags?

Choosing the best vacuum storage bags depends on your individual needs — do you just need to store a few seasonal sweaters, or pack up your whole house for a move? According to, the size and dimensions can help you figure out which options are right for you.

" They should be large enough to hold multiple items and be durable enough to use from year to year ," Forté says. For those who don't own a vacuum (or have one readily accessible), opt for a bag that can be rolled to compress or can be hand pumped.

What do you put in a space bag?

While you might want to use your vacuum storage bag to compress bulky items like winter coats and duvets, Forté warns against vacuum-sealing down-filled items . Instead, she recommends only compressing them halfway.

"Otherwise, you risk crushing and breaking the down feathers and they may then not be as lofty or insulate as well," Forté says. Additionally, be sure not to store wet items, or you risk creating mold and causing long-term damage.

How long can you store items in a vacuum storage bag?

Forté recommends using storage bags for short-term and seasonal storage . "Keep items in them too long, and you risk permanently setting creases or crushing and flattening items that are supposed to be lofty and puffy," Forte says. For best results, be sure to check the recommended storage time on your bag's instructions.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Associate Commerce Editor Lauren Gruber put together this list of the best vacuum storage bag picks, based on insights and recommendations from Carolyn Forté .

Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she oversees all of GH's cleaning and home care product testing.

Lauren is a Brooklyn-based journalist and Associate Editor at Hearst. You can find her previous work at Entertainment Tonight , Shop TODAY , USA Today , Self Magazine , L’Officiel USA , V Magazine, and Modern Luxury Media .

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With WR Need Entering Draft, Should Chiefs Push for a Brandon Aiyuk Trade?

Trading for a proven veteran would undoubtedly help KC, but is the cost in money and draft capital worth it?

Author: Jordan Foote

In this story:

It's no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs have a need at the wide receiver position. While adding Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to a group headlined by Rashee Rice is solid, Brown is on a one-year contract. There's also one more spot left for a premier talent. Improving in 2024 and beyond makes sense.

Many expect general manager Brett Veach and company to use the 2024 NFL Draft this week as an avenue to snag a wideout. What about a trade, though? The main man who comes to mind right now is San Francisco 49ers standout Brandon Aiyuk.

While San Francisco is hopeful that Aiyuk remains a 49er for life, that reality is far from a certainty. The former first-round pick is set to play on his fifth-year option this coming season, leading to an ongoing contract situation as he seeks a long-term deal. Some believe Aiyuk could be moved this week , providing an intriguing subplot to draft festivities.

How does that apply to Kansas City? Let's examine Aiyuk's profile and decide whether it'd be worth it for Veach to make a massive splash move.

How Aiyuk would fit in the Chiefs' offense

If this past season didn't justify Aiyuk being a top 10 receiver in the league, it's unclear what would. In 16 regular-season games, the Arizona State product hauled in 75 passes for 1,342 yards (a 17.9-yard average per reception!) and seven touchdowns. He posted career-high marks in catch rate (71.4%), yards per target (12.8) and passer rating when targeted (124.0). All of that with a 1.9 drop percentage is pretty hard to beat.

In terms of schematic fit, Aiyuk profiles well for what the Chiefs currently do and would want to do with him in the fold. According to Pro Football Focus , nearly half of his 2023-24 targets came in the intermediate area (10-19 yards from the line of scrimmage) of the field. Aiyuk feasts in the middle of the field, as over 54% of his targets were in the short, medium or deep middle spaces.

Don't get it twisted, though: Aiyuk is an all-field player. While he doesn't do any damage behind the line of scrimmage, nearly 31% of his targets came within 0-9 yards of it. Additionally, 20.8% were 20-plus yards down the field. Combining that with Aiyuk's proficiency against man coverage (3.24 yards per route run last season), it's easy to see where he'd win in the Chiefs' system. He'd be a superb complement to Rice and Brown.

What could a hypothetical trade cost?

This is where the trade-off, pun intended, kicks in. Although Aiyuk carries a $14.1 million cap hit on his option for 2024, an acquiring team would undoubtedly have to extend him. A new contract for a clear star wideout carries an extreme going rate, which makes things tricky for the Chiefs. They have 2024 cap space to make something work, but shelling out $25M or more annually to a wideout — even if he's worth it — goes against what the club did when it traded Tyreek Hill in 2022.

In addition to financial implications, an Aiyuk swap would have draft repercussions for Kansas City. Let's use the Philadelphia Eagles' 2022 trade for A.J. Brown as an example. During draft week, Philadelphia sent picks 18 and 101 to the Tennessee Titans for the star receiver. With the Chiefs picking at 32nd this year, a logical starting point is that offering and either pick No. 95 or a future Day Two selection.

The verdict

First and foremost, there's nothing inherently wrong with an argument for the Chiefs trading for an elite receiver. Aiyuk is just that, and someone (the 49ers or otherwise) will compensate him as such. In Andy Reid and Matt Nagy's offense, he'd provide short-term impact and long-term structure for a wideout room that could use it. In a vacuum, moving for him makes sense.

On the other hand, Kansas City has plenty of decisions to make along the offensive line and also locked up All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones on a lucrative deal. With 25 players under contract for 2025 and just under $40M in cap space to work with then, tying up a large chunk for Aiyuk complicates things. Dealing with that and lost draft capital is a sizable risk to take.

For those reasons, it's probably more suitable for the Chiefs to stay the course here. Whether that means picking a receiver at 32 or within the top 75, an addition is necessary. But coming off back-to-back Super Bowl wins, Kansas City has shown that it doesn't necessarily need to go all-in at the position to have success.

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Former Chiefs Safety Mike Edwards Signs With Bills

IMAGES

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SPACE PLACE: Travel time between planets

COMMENTS

Space-A Travel Guide
Flying Space-A on military aircraft is very different from using commercial air travel, and you can't just call a military passenger terminal and book your flight. It's worth learning how Space-A travel works so you can take advantage of this incredible privilege available to eligible members of the military community.
Experiences with Space-A travel? : r/AirForce
Experiences with Space-A travel? People always tell me that Space-A travel isn't very reliable, as flights always get canceled or push back. It seems to me these pains are well worth a $50 plane ticket, but I am curious about your experiences with Space-A. For the most part, are you able to get from A to B without much headache?
Space A Travel: Everything You Need To Know
Space-A is being able to travel on DOD aircraft for free or at a limited cost. The flights you take are on a space-available basis, and the number of passengers they take will depend on the flight. Space-A can get you to many different places worldwide, but some locations are more challenging to fly to than others.
Space-A Flights: 7 Things You Need to Know
Additionally, there are other obstacles you may face, such as your travel eligibility and seat priority. I have compiled a list of 7 things you need to know about Space-A Flights to demystify the process and get you traveling on a budget. #1. Process. The process for applying for Space-A flights is pretty simple, but there are a few things that ...
Space-A Flights: Tips & Tricks for Military Travel
Other Space-A flights will be on large — and loud — military cargo planes, complete with five-point harnesses for passengers during lift-off and landing. Patriot Express flights also charge a $20-35 fee per passenger, so plan accordingly. Bring supplies for a comfortable flight. Consider taking a small sleeping bag, pillow, blankets and ...
Flying Space-A to Japan: 9 Things You Need to Know
Japan is one of the most unique travel destinations in the world and well worth the time and effort to get there. Military travelers are very fortunate, because we have the privilege of taking Space-A flights (aka "MAC" flights) to Japan, allowing us to save hundreds - or even thousands - of dollars on airfare.
Space-A Travel for Military Families
Benefit overview. Service members and their families can use Space-A flights - formally known as Military Airlift Command or MAC flights - to travel around the country and world at a reduced cost or for free. Though sometimes unpredictable, military flights are perfect for families with flexible plans and limited travel budgets.
Military Space-A Travel 101: Categories, Rules, Luggage, & More
There are six categories of Space-A travel, and you'll be placed into one of these categories, each with specific requirements. Passengers placed into Category 1 receive the highest priority and are selected first, then Category 2, and so on. If you need some travel inspiration before booking a Space-A flight, check out these great OCONUS ...
FAQs About Military Space-A Travel
Yes. Veterans who are not retired from the military and have a permanent service-connected disability rated as total (and their accompanying dependents) can fly Space-A within the contiguous United States (CONUS) and to/from Hawaii Alaska, Guam, and other U.S. territories. They cannot fly Space-A to, from, or within foreign countries.
Space-A Travel: Amazing Benefit, Facts & Eligibility
It's worth looking for that to see information on seats available. You must complete a Space-A travel form. You can access the form here. Print this form and bring it with you to the terminal, even if you email or fax it. Who Qualifies? As a veteran, category 6 is where you'll find out if eligible for Space-A travel and flights.
AMC Space Available Travel Page
Travel Instructions. 1. Travel eligibility | Review Travel Eligibility Categories 1-6 (below) to determine your Space-A travel category. 2. Locations | Review common destinations offered at your nearest AMC Passenger Terminal by visiting their website/social media page. For Links to website/social media page, see Passenger Terminal Directory below.
Military Space A Travel: Is it Worth It?
It stands for Space Availability, and it's the program the military uses to offer extra passenger seating on flights. It's variable and unpredictable. It can be a headache. But, it also can be exciting and enjoyable and can help stretch your vacation budget. Most often, these flights are free. Occasionally, there is a small fee if the plane ...
Question: Has anyone used Space-A travel? How does it work, is it worth
I flew Space-A military once as a dependent, but that was back in 1978 or so. It probably helped that my father was a USAF Captain at the time, so his rank got us bumped up a bit on the list. Sitting in web seating in a C-141 for a couple hours was not exactly the most luxurious of flight accomodations.
Why space exploration is always worthwhile
When you become a member, you join our mission to increase discoveries in our solar system and beyond, elevate the search for life outside our planet, and decrease the risk of Earth being hit by an asteroid. Your role in space exploration starts now. $4 /month. $10 /month. $20 /month.
Space-A Travel...A Benefit Worth Using > Pope Field > Article Display
Space Available travel, commonly called, 'Space-A,' is a benefit that military members often overlook and underutilize. Flights from Pope Army Airfield on Fort Bragg typically release an average of 2,000 seats per month. Of those available seats, only two percent are filled for travel.
Why We Should Spend More on Space Travel
Yes, we can live without traveling to space. Indeed, we did perfectly well over all of the millennia that preceded April 12, 1961. We can meet most of our needs when we stay on Earth—we can ...
Is Space Tourism Worth It?
Key Takeaways. Space tourism currently caters primarily to the ultra-wealthy, with Virgin Galactic's early ticket sales priced between $200,000-$450,000, and Blue Origin selling a seat for $28 million in a charity auction. Critics argue that the funds for space tourism could be better utilized for addressing Earth's problems, while others ...
How Space Tourism Is Skyrocketing
The market for space travel (and the sky-high prices that come with it), he believes, will evolve much like civilian air travel did. "In the beginning of the 20th century, only very affluent ...
Space-A Travel/MAC flights worth utilizing? : r/navy
Yes. I took advantage of them going on leave for a month. Take this all with a grain of salt as I did this trip in 1999 over a month (from NASNI to Charleston, SC) with $16 in my pocket between paydays. I would've used them more often in hindsight.
Is It Worth It? The Costs and Benefits of Space Exploration
And by the time the last Apollo mission was flown ( Apollo 17, in 1972), the program had cost a pretty penny. According to the NASA authorization Hearings held by the Ninety-third Congress in 1974 ...
Point/Counterpoint: Is Space Travel Worth It?
Counterpoint: Space Travel is Pollutive. Every old satellite, every shoddy piece of space equipment, every rocket launch booster is simply floating aimlessly around the universe. In 2007, the ...
Should we be travelling to space?
According to Nasa, there were only 114 orbital launches in 2020, this number is set to get much, much bigger with increased space tourism. As many as 600 people have already paid $250,000 (roughly ...
What Is Space Tourism
Axiom Space: $55 million for a 10-day orbital flight; Space Perspective: $125,000 for a 6-hour flight to the edge of space (32 km above the Earth). The price depends, but remember that suborbital space flights are always cheaper. Is space tourism worth it? What exactly do you expect from a journey to space?
I spent 9 months traveling the world. I had a great time, but I'd ...
Here's why I wouldn't travel full time again. I found myself constantly looking for places and experiences that felt like home. While traveling full time, I found myself constantly looking for ...
Scientists Get Serious in the Search for a Working Warp Drive
If humanity wants to be a spacefaring species, it needs to figure out how to travel faster than the speed of light.; Now, a new online toolkit — backed up by a $500,000 grant — will help ...
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Interior staterooms are limited in space and privacy The standard (and least expensive) room on any cruise ship is typically called an inside or interior stateroom.
Business Class Seats
Using a Business Class Airport Lounge. As you all know, I love a good airport lounge. My many credit cards let me use one almost every time I travel. The business class airport lounges take things ...
'Cabs to get into space': How this Indian startup wants to ...
The global space economy was worth $630 billion in 2023, according to a report by McKinsey & Company and the World Economic Forum, and it could grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035.
10 Best Vacuum Storage Bags of 2024
Boasting more than 38,000 five-star reviews and counting, Amazon's #1 best-selling space saver bags claim to shrink the size of your items by up to 80%. This variety pack includes 20 bags, making ...
With WR Need Entering Draft, Should Chiefs Push for a Brandon Aiyuk Trade?
They have 2024 cap space to make something work, but shelling out $25M or more annually to a wideout — even if he's worth it — goes against what the club did when it traded Tyreek Hill in 2022.