Civilians are rushing to sign up to space-travel competitions. Some are looking to push themselves to the limit, while others hope it will help their career ambitions.

Zahra TayebMay 29, 2021, 22:21 IST

The International Space Station as seen by astronauts from NASA's space shuttle Endeavour on February 19, 2010.NASA

The world's biggest space companies are making space travel accessible to the general public.
SpaceX and Blue Origin are among the firms that have launched competitions to fly people to space.
One candidate hopes it will lead to a career in the industry. Others want to test their resolve.

The recently announced winners of the SpaceX mission, called Inspiration4, will be the first-ever crew of people who aren't professional astronauts to orbit the Earth for three days, in late 2021.

The contest-winning Inspiration4 Crew at Launchpad 39A: Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Dr. Sian Proctor, and Jared Isaacman. SpaceX/AP

The recently announced winners of the SpaceX mission, called Inspiration4, will be the first-ever crew of people who aren't professional astronauts to orbit the Earth for three days, in late 2021.

SpaceX is planning for a liftoff of no earlier than September 15. The ship is scheduled to depart from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.

It is expected to orbit Earth for three days, where the crew intends to eventually touch down near Florida. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

For a SpaceX mission to the moon in 2023, Japanese billionaire and financier of the flight, Yusaku Maezawa, launched a new public contest called dearMoon that will allow 8 people to join him on the spaceflight.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk, left, and Yusaku Maezawa, right. The winners of the competition will be chosen by the end of June 2021. AP

For a SpaceX mission to the moon in 2023, Japanese billionaire and financier of the flight, Yusaku Maezawa, launched a new public contest called dearMoon that will allow 8 people to join him on the spaceflight.

One of the dearMoon contestants spoke to Insider, revealing that he and his brother are locked in rivalry for a place on Elon Musk's first civilian flight round the moon, which is slated for 2023.

Charlie Denison-Pender (left) next to his brother Max (right) are two British brothers who have pitted themselves against each other in SpaceX's lunar orbital contest. Charlie Denison-Pender

One of the dearMoon contestants spoke to Insider, revealing that he and his brother are locked in rivalry for a place on Elon Musk's first civilian flight round the moon, which is slated for 2023.

Discovery Channel's reality show, 'Who Wants to Be an Astronaut?' is the latest contest to focus on civilian space travel. Selected contestants will go through a series of extreme challenges to win a ticket to the ISS.

Showing the next generation that space travel is achievable is important to the show's producers. Axiom Space

Discovery Channel's reality show, 'Who Wants to Be an Astronaut?' is the latest contest to focus on civilian space travel. Selected contestants will go through a series of extreme challenges to win a ticket to the ISS.

'Space Hero' is a new spaceflight reality show competition that hopes to send its first winner on a 10-day trip to the ISS, in 2023

The competition series' Space Act Agreement with NASA is not reimbursable and may not definitely lead to a mission. NASA/Roscosmos

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin recently announced it is auctioning off a seat on its July 20 mission to the edge of space. The highest bidder is expected to win a ticket on the historical flight.

This month, Blue Origin revealed $2.4M as the current highest bid for the suborbital trip on its New Shepherd rocket. The bidding rounds will close on June 12. Blue Origin

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin recently announced it is auctioning off a seat on its July 20 mission to the edge of space. The highest bidder is expected to win a ticket on the historical flight.

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Civilians are rushing to sign up to space-travel competitions. Some are looking to push themselves to the limit, while others hope it will help their career ambitions.

The recently announced winners of the SpaceX mission, called Inspiration4, will be the first-ever crew of people who aren't professional astronauts to orbit the Earth for three days, in late 2021.

SpaceX is planning for a liftoff of no earlier than September 15. The ship is scheduled to depart from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.

For a SpaceX mission to the moon in 2023, Japanese billionaire and financier of the flight, Yusaku Maezawa, launched a new public contest called dearMoon that will allow 8 people to join him on the spaceflight.

One of the dearMoon contestants spoke to Insider, revealing that he and his brother are locked in rivalry for a place on Elon Musk's first civilian flight round the moon, which is slated for 2023.

Discovery Channel's reality show, 'Who Wants to Be an Astronaut?' is the latest contest to focus on civilian space travel. Selected contestants will go through a series of extreme challenges to win a ticket to the ISS.

'Space Hero' is a new spaceflight reality show competition that hopes to send its first winner on a 10-day trip to the ISS, in 2023

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin recently announced it is auctioning off a seat on its July 20 mission to the edge of space. The highest bidder is expected to win a ticket on the historical flight.