Russia is planning to offer spacewalks to tourists on International Space Station for $100 million

In a first, Russia is planning to send tourists on the International Space Station (ISS) out on spacewalks. Regarding this, Vladimir Solntsev, head of Russian space company Energia, told Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, “We are discussing the possibility of sending tourists on spacewalks.”
He asserted that the cost of such a trip would not be cheap and one might have to pay around $100 million, i.e., 80 million Euros, which might be possibly less for the first tourists. Solntsev also confirmed that that as per market analysts, wealthy people are ready to pay for such an expedition. Also, the tourists venturing out on spacewalks will enjoy the freedom of making a video clip or a film.

Energia, which was behind the launch of Yuri Gagarin in space in 1961, is currently busy in building a new module dubbed NEM-2 to carry tourists to the ISS.

Solntsev further revealed that NEM-2, the name of which still needs to be confirmed, will likely be launched in 2019. This new module will supposedly be fitted with two toilets, comfortable cabins, and internet access. Also, it will be able to accommodate four to six people during a trip. “Basically, it will be comfortable, as much as that is possible in space,” he further added.

If this project sees the light of day, four to six tourists will be able to take a trip to space, possibly lasting for up to 10 days.

The Russian Space Agency has been the only organisation responsible for carrying out orbital space tourism mission previously, but some US companies are trying to achieve this mission privately. The ISS has been in orbit since 1998 and is used as per government treaties and agreements. Space tourism is gaining grounds by leaps and bounds; however, this sector is currently dominated by Western companies.