NASA to allow private citizens on space station

NASA will soon allow up to two private citizens per year to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), reversing longstanding policy.

The agency announced Friday that the plan could begin as soon as next year as part of a change to make the agency and the ISS in particular more friendly to commercial interests, according to The Washington Post.

The plan is reportedly part of NASA’s bid to raise the funds required to send an astronaut back to the moon by 2024.{mosads}

Jeff DeWit, NASA’s chief financial officer, said Friday that the cost for private astronauts to stay on board the ISS would be set around $35,000 per night, with the actual cost of getting astronauts to the space station left up to private companies such as SpaceX.

“But it won’t come with any Hilton or Marriott points,” DeWit quipped at a press conference.

He added that it was unclear how much money the agency would be able to raise through partnerships with private enterprises, but he expressed optimism, according to the Post, about excitement in the commercial sector for access to the ISS.