Futuristic space hotel orbiting Earth, with a spacecraft heading to the Moon.

From Suborbital Hops to Lunar Leaps: How Space Tourism is Paving the Way for Interplanetary Adventures

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Nico Varela in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the ambitious plans of Virgin Galactic and others to revolutionize space travel, from luxury space hotels to high-speed Earth-bound travel."


The allure of space has always captivated humanity, fueling dreams of exploration and adventure beyond Earth's atmosphere. Today, that dream is becoming increasingly tangible thanks to the burgeoning space tourism industry. Companies like Virgin Galactic are pioneering suborbital flights, offering breathtaking views and a taste of weightlessness to paying customers. But these ventures are more than just thrill rides; they represent a crucial step towards broader access to space and the development of technologies that could revolutionize travel both on and off our planet.

Richard Branson, the visionary behind Virgin Galactic, has long expressed his ambition to not only offer suborbital joyrides but also to establish space hotels and even venture to the Moon. In a 2013 speech to Virgin Galactic customers, Branson outlined a future where small, purpose-built spaceships would transport guests from space hotels for day trips with stunning views of the lunar surface. While these plans may seem ambitious, they highlight the long-term vision driving the space tourism industry and the potential for significant advancements in space technology.

Achieving these lofty goals requires overcoming significant technological and economic hurdles. Reaching orbit, for instance, demands speeds far greater than those achieved by current suborbital spacecraft, along with increased safety measures. However, the progress made in recent years, coupled with the ongoing investment and innovation in the sector, suggests that the future of space travel is closer than ever before.

Beyond Suborbital: Laying the Foundation for Future Space Endeavors

Futuristic space hotel orbiting Earth, with a spacecraft heading to the Moon.

While suborbital flights provide a taste of space, reaching Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is the next crucial step. Getting to LEO requires a substantial increase in speed and energy compared to suborbital flight. As any aerospace engineer will attest, reaching orbit is a whole different ball game. It calls for technology that can achieve significantly higher speeds. To reach LEO, a spacecraft needs to accelerate to approximately 28,100 km/h.

Virgin Galactic is already developing an orbital vehicle – albeit unmanned – called LauncherOne. LauncherOne builds on the technology of SpaceShipTwo. It is designed to deliver payloads into orbit, marking a significant step beyond suborbital tourism. If Branson can find an affordable way to ferry passengers to orbit, the rest of Virgin Galactic's plans are feasible - perhaps even getting to the Moon.

  • LauncherOne Specifications:
  • Payload Capacity: Can deliver a 225-kilogram payload to low inclination equatorial LEO and 100 kilograms to polar Sun-synchronous orbit at higher altitudes.
  • Air-Launched System: A two-stage rocket that launches from WhiteKnightTwo, similar to SpaceShipTwo.
  • Engine Development: Key to LauncherOne's success are the engines, developed and built by Virgin Galactic. The 3,500-pound-thrust NewtonOne and 47,500-pound-thrust NewtonTwo are the first- and second-stage engines.
LauncherOne’s liquid propulsion system is being developed into one that can be used on SpaceShipThree. So the liquid rocket engines Virgin Galactic is testing for LauncherOne may help Branson develop his satellite launch service quickly, while also helping the company develop more capability so they are ready to power those future vehicles when the time comes.

The Future of Travel: A Glimpse into Tomorrow

The journey from suborbital flights to lunar excursions is a long and challenging one, but the progress made in recent years is undeniable. As technology advances and costs decrease, space travel will become increasingly accessible, transforming not only our understanding of the universe but also our approach to global transportation. The dreams of visionary leaders like Richard Branson, once confined to the realm of science fiction, are now steadily becoming a reality, paving the way for a future where space is not just a destination but a part of our everyday lives.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/978-3-319-09262-1_9, Alternate LINK

Title: Beyond Suborbital

Journal: Virgin Galactic

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Authors: Erik Seedhouse

Published: 2014-12-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What are Virgin Galactic's initial space tourism offerings and long-term goals?

Virgin Galactic is pioneering suborbital flights to provide customers with breathtaking views and weightlessness. Richard Branson envisions expanding these services to include space hotels and lunar excursions. This progression from suborbital flights to potential lunar visits requires overcoming significant technological and economic hurdles, especially in achieving the necessary speeds and safety measures for orbital travel. LauncherOne, an unmanned orbital vehicle, represents a step towards this goal, utilizing technologies developed for SpaceShipTwo.

2

What capabilities does Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne have, and what are its key specifications?

LauncherOne is designed to deliver payloads into orbit, with a payload capacity of 225 kilograms to low inclination equatorial LEO and 100 kilograms to polar Sun-synchronous orbit. Key components of LauncherOne are the NewtonOne and NewtonTwo engines, which are being developed by Virgin Galactic. These engines use a liquid propulsion system, which may also be used in SpaceShipThree, indicating the potential for shared technology across different space vehicles.

3

What speed is required to reach Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and why is achieving LEO a significant step beyond suborbital flights?

Reaching Low Earth Orbit (LEO) requires a spacecraft to accelerate to approximately 28,100 km/h, which is significantly faster than what is needed for suborbital flights. This leap in speed and energy demands advanced technology. While suborbital flights offer a glimpse of space, achieving LEO is essential for more extensive space travel and operations, making it a critical milestone for companies like Virgin Galactic and their future endeavors, including lunar missions.

4

How does space tourism, particularly through ventures like Virgin Galactic, contribute to making space travel more accessible?

Richard Branson aims to make space travel more accessible by reducing costs through technological advancements. The development of LauncherOne's engines and propulsion systems not only supports satellite launches but also contributes to the broader goal of affordable space access. This affordability is crucial for realizing future ambitions such as space hotels and lunar day trips, as it opens space travel to a wider range of people and opportunities.

5

Beyond tourism, what broader impacts might the burgeoning space industry have on technology and our understanding of the universe?

Space tourism has implications beyond offering exclusive experiences. It drives innovation in space technology, potentially leading to advances in global transportation. As companies like Virgin Galactic push the boundaries of space travel, the technologies developed could revolutionize how we travel on Earth, making high-speed transportation a reality. Moreover, increased access to space can transform our understanding of the universe and our place within it.

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