Space tourism is becoming a reality with the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos driving the space industry. Many technologies that can propel humans into the solar system are already in place. And as NASA's partnering firms continue their testing of safe take-offs and landings, spare seats may soon open up on their spacecrafts to launch us directly into the orbit.

In a recent drop test, NASA has published a video showing four large parachutes positioning and lowering a mock spacecraft beneath them. Conducted by SpaceX, the drill has been a huge success that will eventually help bring astronauts home.

SpaceX has been working closely with the space agency to shuttle cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS). The partnership is reaping its fruits, for NASA will now leverage the capabilities of SpaceX and Boeing both to commute its astronauts to and from the space station.

And with SpaceX Dragon capsule and Boeing's CST 100 Starliner offering spare seats, one in seven will also be reserved for a space tourist.

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During the parachute test, SpaceX used a massive weight in lieu of an actual spacecraft and dropped the test assembly from a C-130 cargo aircraft several thousand feet in the air over Coolidge, Arizona.

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The initial aim is to safely land the astronauts in the oceans under parachutes. But SpaceX is looking to move a step forward and achieve a ground landing using eight SuperDraco engines.

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Just last week, SpaceX tested propulsive landings - where the goal is to safely lower the returning astronauts on landing pads and save the parachutes for emergencies only.

As space tourism grows, things are shaping up good. The experience may be reserved for the wealthy as of now, but with industry expansion, space travel can very well become affordable for the middle class as well. After all, who wouldn't want to have the Moon and planets as their immediate neighbours?