Lunar Tourism Explained: Private Circumlunar Trips & Future Outlook

Oct, 16 2025

Key Takeaways

• Private lunar tourism currently means a circumlunar flyby, not a surface landing.
• Space Adventures has been quoting $150 million per seat for a 8‑day flyby since the early 2010s.
• SpaceX’s Starship could drop prices dramatically, but human‑rating won’t be ready before the early 2030s.
• Radiation exposure, intensive training, and geopolitical risk are the biggest barriers today.
• Analysts predict 5‑10 annual customers by 2035 if Starship becomes operational, rising to 25‑50 by 2040.

Lunar tourism is a niche segment of the broader space‑tourism market that sells private trips around the Moon without a surface landing. The idea grew out of orbital tourism successes like Dennis Tito’s 2001 ISS flight, and it promises an ultra‑exclusive view of the far side of the Moon and the iconic Earthrise. As of October 2025 no private circumlunar mission has launched, but several companies are racing to turn the dream into a ticketed experience.

How a Circumlunar Trip Works

A circumlunar, or “circumlunar,” flight follows a translunar injection (TLI) that sends a spacecraft on a free‑return trajectory around the Moon. The craft usually flies past the lunar surface at about 100 km altitude, lingers for roughly 24 hours, then uses Moon‑gravity to sling back toward Earth. The whole mission lasts 8‑9 days, offering passengers a full day of continuous lunar proximity.

Key technical steps include:

1. Launch and TLI: A heavy‑lift rocket (Soyuz for Space Adventures, Starship for SpaceX) places the spacecraft into a low‑Earth orbit before a high‑energy burn sends it toward the Moon.
2. Deep‑space cruise: The vehicle coasts for about three days, during which crew perform health checks and enjoy weightless observations.
3. Lunar flyby: At closest approach passengers see the Moon’s far side, the terminator line, and the Earthrise silhouette.
4. Return burn: A retro‑burn or the Moon’s gravity redirects the craft toward Earth, followed by re‑entry and splashdown.

Training mirrors ISS tourism: six months at Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (aka Star City) covering centrifuge runs, parabolic flights, emergency procedures, and basic spacecraft systems. Medical standards are similar to those for low‑Earth‑orbit flights-candidates must pass a Category 1 health exam and demonstrate resilience to isolation.

Current Players and Their Proposals

Four companies dominate the conversation, each with a different approach and timeline.

Major Lunar‑Tourism Proposals (2025‑2035)

Company	Vehicle	Pricing (USD)	Status	First Flight Window
Space Adventures	Modified Soyuz TMA	$150 million per seat	Concept; awaiting launch provider	2028 (optimistic)
SpaceX	Starship (fully reusable)	Projected $50‑75 million	In development; human‑rating years away	Early 2030s
Blue Origin	New Glenn (sub‑orbital focus)	Not disclosed for lunar	Sub‑orbital only; no lunar plans announced	N/A
Axiom Space	ISS‑based orbital module	$55‑70 million (orbital trips)	Orbital tourism only; lunar not planned	N/A
ispace	Hakuto‑R lander & OTV concept	Not public for tourism	Focus on sample‑return; exploring tourist transfer	Mid‑2030s (speculative)

Space Adventures leverages a proven Soyuz platform, which gives it credibility but also ties it to Russian launch infrastructure-a growing geopolitical risk after 2022. SpaceX’s Starship promises a 100‑fold cost reduction thanks to full reuse, yet the vehicle still needs a human‑rating certification that NASA expects to complete no earlier than 2029. Blue Origin and Axiom continue to focus on sub‑orbital or low‑Earth‑orbit experiences, leaving the lunar niche to the two heavy‑lift contenders.

Cost, Market Size, and Expert Outlook

Pricing remains the most discussed metric. Space Adventures has stuck with a $150 million price tag for over a decade, representing a 425‑650 % premium over its earlier ISS seats that cost $20‑35 million. Analysts argue that this figure is unsustainable unless the market expands beyond a handful of ultra‑wealthy patrons.

Dr. John Logsdon (George Washington University) warned in 2024 that "circumlunar tourism remains a niche market for the ultra‑wealthy with questionable economic sustainability." By contrast, Dr. Julie Kwan (Space Tourism Society) projected in 2025 that “if Starship reaches operational status, we could see 5‑10 customers per year by 2035, climbing to 25‑50 annually by 2040 as prices drop to $50‑75 million.”

Market‑size forecasts vary widely:

• GetTransfer.com (2025‑2030) sees a $1.2 billion lunar‑tourism market by 2035.
• UBS (July 2025) predicts 500 annual lunar tourists by 2040 if costs fall below $100 million.
• Morgan Stanley (Sept 2025) caps the market at 25‑50 annual customers through 2045, citing persistent technical and regulatory barriers.

Even at the high‑end, lunar tourism would still represent under 5 % of the overall $28 billion space‑tourism market projected for 2035.

Risks and Practical Barriers

The biggest health concern is radiation. A Reddit‑engineered calculation by user u/OrbitalAnalyst (2025) estimated a circumlunar mission would expose passengers to 300‑400 mSv, roughly the dose of 15,000 chest X‑rays. That level exceeds the limits for most commercial‑flight crews and requires robust shielding or medical monitoring.

Geopolitics also loom large. Space Adventures’ reliance on Soyuz ties its timeline to Russian launch availability, which has been unpredictable since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the United States is tightening export controls on dual‑use space technology, potentially limiting cross‑border collaborations.

Regulatory clarity is thin. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty governs activities but offers no specific licensing regime for private lunar flybys. The U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 gives owners rights over extracted resources, but it does not address tourism liability, leaving companies to negotiate case‑by‑case with national space agencies.

Roadmap: When Might You Fly?

Most experts agree the first private circumlunar flight will not happen before 2030. Here’s a rough timeline based on current development paths:

1. 2025‑2027: Final design reviews for Space Adventures’ DSE‑Alpha; Starship continues orbital test flights.
2. 2028‑2030: Possible inaugural Soyuz‑based flyby if a launch slot is secured; SpaceX begins human‑rating milestones for Starship.
3. 2031‑2034: Starship certified for crewed flight; commercial lunar flyby tickets open for early‑bird reservations.
4. 2035‑2040: Market scales to double‑digit annual customers; second‑generation vehicles (e.g., ispace OTV) add dedicated Lunar‑Transfer Services.

Parallel infrastructure-lunar orbiting stations, refueling depots, and surface habitats-planned under NASA’s Artemis program will lower costs over the longer term, making a true surface‑tourism experience possible after 2040.

Checklist for Aspiring Lunar Tourists

• Secure a minimum net‑worth of $150 million (or the lower projected price if Starship becomes the provider).
• Pass a Category 1 medical exam and obtain a radiation‑exposure clearance.
• Complete at least six months of intensive training at a recognized astronaut center (e.g., Star City or Johnson Space Center).
• Arrange travel insurance that covers high‑altitude, deep‑space, and potential rescue scenarios.
• Stay updated on geopolitical developments that could affect launch provider availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

So, is lunar tourism ready for you today? Not quite yet, but the groundwork is being laid. If you can afford the price tag, survive the training, and tolerate a bit of radiation, you could be among the first handful of humans to see Earth rise over the Moon’s horizon from a private spacecraft. Keep an eye on the evolving schedules, and you might find yourself signing a contract before the next decade is out.