From 22,000-mile elevator to Neptune Balloon: The cost of space travel for Indians

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Space Elevator

The 22,000-mile elevator by Obayashi Corporation is a ₹8.44 lakh crore project, expected to offer ticketed rides to space by 2050. Individual ticket prices are not yet disclosed.

Credit: Obayashi

Rocket Space Plane

Radian One’s six-hour space flight, launching by rocket-powered sled, is anticipated to be premium-priced, though exact costs remain undisclosed. Expect ticket prices to be in the multi-crore range.

Space Balloon

Space Perspective’s Neptune balloon trip to 100,000 feet offers luxury amenities and panoramic views. Tickets are priced at ₹1.055 crore; commercial flights begin in 2026.

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic offers a 90-minute suborbital journey with weightlessness for ₹3.798 crore per ticket, providing breathtaking Earth views.

Lunar Flyby

SpaceX’s lunar missions offer close encounters with the Moon. Estimated prices reach into thousands of crores, for an exclusive trip around the Moon.

Mars Missions

Mars colonization projects by SpaceX hint at future civilian trips to the Red Planet, though expected costs are multi-thousand crore for a journey unlike any other.

Space Hotel

Orbiting hotels like Von Braun Station could let tourists experience zero-gravity fun. Ticket prices are yet to be determined but will likely be in the multi-crore range.

Spacewalk Adventure

Future spacewalks for civilians are being considered, with expected costs in tens of crores for the unique experience of floating outside a spacecraft.

Deep Space Tours

Advanced missions may eventually allow trips to destinations beyond Mars, like Jupiter’s moons, at an anticipated cost of multi-thousand crores for deep-space travel.