NASA said Friday it will open up the International Space Station for tourism and other business ventures as of next year, as it seeks to financially disengage from the orbiting research lab.
NASA made the announcement at a news conference, and said costs and arrangements for flying crews to the station would be left to Boeing Co. and SpaceX, the two companies NASA has hired for such trips, the Washington Post said.
"NASA is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as we've never done before," NASA chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said in New York.
NASA would charge people for food, storage and communication once at the station, which would amount to about $35,000 a night.
There will be up to two short private astronaut missions per year, said Robyn Gatens, deputy director of the ISS.
Agencies
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