Would You Take a Trip to Space?

3. . . 2 . . . 1 . . . blastoff! With a burst of rocket fire, you rush toward the sky. The spaceship rattles like the bumpiest roller-coaster ride ever. As you speed faster and faster, it feels like a giant hand is pressing you into your seat.

Then the rocket engine shuts off . . . and you’re instantly weightless. Unbuckling your seat belt, you float around the ship. Through the window, Earth looks like a watery marble hovering in the darkness of space.

Usually, astronauts study and train for years before they get this experience. But regular people might travel to space as soon as this year.

Some rocket companies are letting any adult buy a spot on a future space trip. And NASA, the government space agency, will soon let people visit the International Space Station—a science lab that circles high above Earth.

But you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to wonder: Are space vacations a good idea?

3. . . 2 . . . 1 . . . blastoff! With a burst of rocket fire, you rush toward the sky. The spaceship rattles like a bumpy roller-coaster ride. You speed faster and faster. It feels like a giant hand is pressing you into your seat. 

Then the rocket engine shuts off. All of a sudden, you’re weightless. You unbuckle your seat belt and float around the ship. Through the window, Earth looks like a watery marble floating in the darkness of space.

Usually, astronauts study and train for years before they get to be in space. But regular people might travel there as soon as this year. 

Some rocket companies are letting people buy a spot on a future space trip. And NASA, the government space agency, will soon let people visit the International Space Station. That’s a science lab that circles high above Earth. 

But are space vacations a good idea?

Space travel would be an out-of-this-world opportunity. So far, only about 600 humans have visited space. You’d join a small club of people who’ve done something truly extraordinary.

It would also be fun. Gravity—the natural force keeping you on the ground—mostly disappears in space. You could do spectacular midair somersaults that would make any gymnast jealous.

And the view! It’d be unbeatable. How cool would it be to take a selfie with the whole planet?

You’re not the only one who thinks this would be the trip of a lifetime. Hundreds of people have already reserved spots on future trips, including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber. Who knows—maybe one of these superstars would be your spaceshipmate!

Space travel would be an out-of-this-world opportunity. So far, only about 600 humans have visited space. You would join a small club of people who have done something truly special.

It would be fun too. Gravity—the natural force that keeps you on the ground—mostly disappears in space. You could do midair backflips that would make any gymnast jealous.

And think of the view! You could take a selfie with the whole planet!

Many people want to visit space. Hundreds have already reserved spots on future trips. Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber are among them. You might get to travel with one of these superstars!