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Photo by History in HD on Unsplash
NASA's official photographer is no longer going to be the only one to wow his friends and family with incredible shots of the International Space Station.
Visit the ISS
In a move announced this week, NASA will be opening the ISS to tourists and companies to help fund NASA's many projects.
You can pay a cool $35,000 per night to sleep on the ISS and use the amenities there, including air, water, the internet and the toilet.
Although, the private companies that work with NASA will likely charge much more.
A History of Non-Commercialization
Previously to this announcement, NASA has frowned up the commercialization of space travel.
"This is a huge different way for us to do business," said William H. Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operation.
Many speculate this move is an answer to the Trump administration's proposal to end funding for the ISS by the end of 2024.
NASA also said the goal was to eventually transition to outposts run wholly by private companies.
"We're hoping new capabilities will develop that can one day take over for the space station," said Robyn Gatens, the deputy space station director for NASA.
Is This Just About Space Travel?
NASA also announced Friday that other commercial ventures will be able to use NASA's capabilities. One such example is that companies can now fly items into space to sell them back on Earth.
How Much Will This Really Make NASA?
Not enough.
Every single day NASA spends $8 million to keep the space station running, which equals between $3 and $4 billion per year.
Jeff DeWitt, the agency's chief financial officer, said it is too early to tell how much money NASA will actually make from these ventures.
The price for space flights could also vary over the coming years. DeWitt said the agency will adjust pricing based on market demand.
