Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight is set to take off this week. Here are the players taking civilians to space.

• Virgin Galactic is set to launch its first space tourism flight on August 10.
• It marks a new era in space tourism for the company, which will have have monthly flights.

This week, Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight is set to take off from New Mexico — and three of the passengers on board aren't traditional astronauts.

Blasting off to the edge of space has become a more popular — though hardly mainstream — tourism experience. The company intends on operating commercial flights every month following the expedition, ushering in a new era for space travel.

Galactic 02's passengers include Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers, a mother and daughter from the Caribbean who won their seats in a ticket raffle, as well as Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old former Olympian.

Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's commercial space venture, was established in 2004 and completed its first commercial spaceflight in June. On the flight were three passengers from the Italian Air Force and National Research Council.

Space tourism translates to big business for the company: In its second quarter earnings report, Virgin Galactic attributed an increase in quarterly revenue from $0.4 in 2022 to $2 million this year to "commercial spaceflight and membership fees related to future astronauts."

Tickets for a seat on a Virgin Galactic rocket can cost $450,000, though some, like Goodwin, bought their tickets over a decade ago for $250,000.

The steep price doesn't seem to be keeping people away. As of the end of last year, about 800 tickets for commercial spaceflights had been reserved, the company said in its 2022 annual report. These tickets will translate to about $207 million in future revenue, per the report.

Virgin Galactic is not the only company in the game. In July 2021, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin sent four people, including Bezos, 62 miles above Earth, marking the first passenger spaceflight completed by the Amazon chairman's company, which was founded in 2000.

Using a rocket called New Shepard, Blue Origin has completed six human spaceflights since.

There's also SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket company, which was founded in 2002 and is making concerted efforts in the commercial spaceflight industry.

In September 2021, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket took four civilians close to orbit without any professional astronauts on board. It was the first all-civilian crew to successfully complete a mission and was funded entirely by billionaire Jared Issacman.

The following year, SpaceX, in conjunction with Axiom Space, launched the first all-private crew to the International Space Station, where they spent more than a week. The four attendees spent $55 million each for the trip.

Of course, most of us mere mortals aren't able to afford the price of entry into outer space. So until it becomes more affordable, here's a look at the options available to space tourists:

Virgin Galactic completed its first commercial space flight at the end of June, sending three passengers from the Italian Air Force and National Research Council into space on the Galactic 01 mission.

A view of Galactic 01 during its first commercial spaceflight.      Virgin Galactic

Source: Insider

The flight lasted 72 minutes from take off to landing.

A shot outside of Galactic 01 during its first commercial spaceflight.      Virgin Galactic

Source: Virgin Galactic

Galactic 01 had research, rather than tourism, objectives to measure hypergravity and microgravity effects on the human body.

A view of the Earth from Galactic 01.      Virgin Galactic

Source: Virgin Galactic

Walter Villadei, a colonel in the Italian Air Force, was on the flight.

A crew member looks out of Galactic 01 after reaching space.      Virgin Galactic

Source: Virgin Galactic

Galactic 01 marked the beginning of a robust spaceflight plan from Virgin Galactic, which intends on sending another commercial flight to space on August 10.

Colonel Walter Villadei, floating in zero gravity.      Virgin Galactic

Source: Virgin Galactic

As of now, tickets are going for $450,000 a pop. While cabins can fit four people, Virgin Galactic intends on flying out only three passengers, reserving the final seat for an astronaut trainer.

Virgin Galactic Spaceship Seats Rotated Back In Space.      Virgin Galactic

Sources: Insider, Spacenews

Blue Origin's New Shepard made its ascent towards the edge of space and subsequent return back in August 2022. NS-22 was the company's most recent successful mission, and marked the rocket's 22nd mission to space and sixth human flight.

New Shepard lifts off during its 22nd mission back in August 2022.      Blue Origin

Source: Blue Origin

The calm before the storm: New Shepard at its launch pad ahead of NS-22 last year. Six crew members were part of the flight and getting ready inside the craft.

New Shepard on the launch pad prior to NS-22 in August 2022.      Blue Origin

During the course of Blue Origin's 11-minute trips, tourists experience zero gravity, which offers a sense of weightlessness. The company requires passengers to take a course in order to prepare.

NS-22 Astronauts Mario Ferreira and Coby Cotton float weightless mid-flight.      Blue Origin

Source: Insider

Mario Ferreira, a businessman and entrepreneur, became the first person from Portugal to travel to space after successfully completing NS-22. Sara Sabry, an engineer and CEO of the nonprofit Deep Space Initiative, pictured on the right, was the first person from Egypt to go to space.

NS-22 Astronaut Mário Ferreira celebrates upon landing.      Blue Origin

Source: Blue Origin

Past Blue Origin passengers include "Star Trek" actor William Shatner, healthcare entrepreneur Glen de Vries, and Bezos' brother Mark.

William Shatner and the crew of Blue Origin.      Reuters

Source: Insider

Blue Origin is notoriously tight-lipped about its ticket pricing, but prior to its first commercial flight in July 2021, a passenger who later had to skip the flight due to "a scheduling conflict" said he'd paid $28 million to secure a seat.

The New Shepard crew capsule descends under its three main parachutes before landing in the West Texas desert, following the completion of NS-22.      Blue Origin

Source: Insider

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is the only vessel that has sent private civilians to the International Space Station.

The Falcon 9 carrying a host of supplies and integral equipment.      Space Center Houston

Source: Insider

SpaceX's commercial space flight is the only one to actually send tourists into orbit, or 363 miles above Earth. In September 2021, a Falcon 9 rocket took four civilians into space for a total cost of around $220 million, paid for in full by billionaire Jared Isaacman.

A flown SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster.      Space Center Houston

Source: ABC

Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX did not respond to Insider's request for comment.