NASA will open the International Space Station to tourists from 2020.
The US space agency said it would open the orbiting lab up to new commercial opportunities including space tourism from next year, it was announced today.
Up to two short-duration private astronaut missions per year to the space station will be available through privately funded, dedicated commercial spaceflights, the agency said.
The plans to commercialise the ISS were revealed on Friday in part to offset the costs of running the station.
Private astronauts will be permitted to travel to the ISS for up to 30 days, the agency said.
Such missions will use a US spacecraft developed under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
The move comes as NASA focuses on achieving its goal of landing the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024.
Humans have lived and worked aboard the ISS for more than 18 years, conducting thousands of experiments in areas including human research, biology and physical science.
