After waiting for years, the dreams of many aspiring space tourists appear ready to take flight. Space tourism companies -- such as Space X, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin -- are getting ready to fly passengers into the lower edge of space. John Zarrella has the details.

Anousheh Ansari is not fond of the label space tourist. 

"Space explorers. We are space explorers."

Whatever you wish to call it, Ansari is a pioneer. She was the first privately funded female space explorer. In 2006, she flew on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station spending nine days there. Ansari believes space tourism will be hugely popular because she says the experience changes you. It's spiritual.

ANOUSHEH ANSARI SPACE EXPLORER "And that perspective shift, I believe, makes you a better person. It makes you care more about your world, your planet and it helps you prioritize what's important in life."

Space tourism, in its infancy now, may be on the verge of, pardon the pun, taking off. Later this year, both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin hope to begin flying passengers on short flights into the lower edge of space.

JOHN ZARRELLA CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA "Virgin Galactic has more than six hundred people signed up at 250 thousand dollars per seat. Blue Origin isn't selling tickets yet nor has it announced a price per seat. But, it's expected to be at least 200 thousand dollars."

SpaceX is building its Starship that could eventually carry one hundred people. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has booked a 2023 flight around the moon for himself and half a dozen friends. Price Unknown. But the well of wealthy people is limited. Former Space Shuttle astronaut Scott Parazynski believes for these companies to be successful, the cost per seat must come down to about fifty thousand dollars - the price of a nice car.

SCOTT PARAZYNSKI FORMER SPACE SHUTTLE ASTRONAUT "Would I opt for a chance even someone like me who as flown in space five times? Would I give up on a car for another shot in the barrel? Absolutely. I would take my wife and kids and I would absolutely do that. So, I do think that once the price point does come down, there will be a sizeable market."

Apollo 15 command module pilot Al Worden is one of the few humans who's already seen the moon up close. Worden says he'll hold off booking a seat until

AL WORDEN APOLLO 15 COMMAND MODULE PILOT "When they get to the point where there's a Hilton hotel in space you can go to for two hundred dollars a night, then yes, we'll have space tourism."

A decade from now the Swiss Bank, UBS, estimates Space Tourism will be a three billion dollar a year industry and growing. By then, the price for a ticket to ride should be at least a bit more affordable. John Zarrella, CGTN America, Cape Canaveral, Florida.