NASA is about to let private companies make movies on the International Space Station

Prepare to blast off. Yes, that means you.

NASA will soon start letting commercial businesses use the International Space Station, it announced Friday. That means private astronauts will be able to test products, conduct research, and even make movies in the zero-gravity environment.

Unlike Russia, NASA has long resisted letting anyone using its side of the ISS for commercial purposes. That changed last August when administrator Jim Bridenstine started looking into how business revenue could offset NASA mission costs. After all, it costs NASA between $3 and $4 billion just to operate the ISS each year, The Verge notes. So with its Friday announcement, NASA also released preliminary pricing for cargo storage and ISS facilities usage, with a one-night stay costing about $35,000.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

A private trip to the ISS also comes with some strict limitations. Just five percent of NASA's allocated crew resources and cargo capability, as well as 175 kg of cargo launch capability, will be set aside for private use each year. Private missions for now will be limited to two per year, and they can last up to 30 days. That means there will be stiff competition for the spots, and with scientific projects getting a priority treatment, it'll probably be a while before we see a real zero-gravity sequel to Gravity.

In the meantime, NASA is also working on sending the first woman and another man to the moon by 2024, and says American companies will help NASA maintain a "sustainable presence" there. NASA has also said it would eventually like private companies take over the ISS full-time to cut those massive operating costs.

Read all of NASA's plan here.