There was a time when going to the stars was backed by governments and only specially trained astronauts could ever see outer space. Governments around the world are still investing in space programs, China just launched its own unmanned spacecraft back in October, but private enterprise has steadily been building the beginning of an actual space industry.

Ten year ago businessman Dennis Tito became the first private person to pay to fly in space on August 28, 2001. Since then several other individuals have made the trek and there are more waiting in line for private flights. Space travel is now being rapidly commercialized with privately owned space craft, travel agents and even space hotels.

British businessman Richard Branson and his company Virgin Galactic is offering round trips to space for $200,000. Other companies have also announced plans to ferry passengers to outer space. These include Tails, Blue Origin, EADS Astrium and XCOR Aerospace. Aside from space tourism, private companies are also vying to take over some of the responsibilities of the defunct NASA Space Shuttle program. SpaceX, a California based company will be first commercial company to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

Stephen Attenborough, Virgin Galactic's commercial director, says there are many similarities between the growing space travel industry and that of commercial aviation a century ago.

"My sense is we're on a very similar path here," he tells USA Today.

"At the moment, most people would assume they'd never go to space. I think they're going to be wrong. ... My view of the future is that, maybe in 30 to 40 years, most people who want to go to space will have the opportunity to do it, and that it will be affordable."

And like the early pioneers of commercial aviation, companies in the burgeoning space travel industry will have to contend with new technology and finding ways of making travel affordable for everybody. Right now the cost of space travel makes it a pastime for the very rich but space entrepreneurs say that space travel will soon be affordable for everyone.

"This is not just about starting a business. It's about hopefully starting a whole new industry, and in order to do that as the leader in the field, we need to do it well, and we need to make money," says Attenborough

The industry is growing. Travel insurance Firm Allianz Global Assistance is planning to offer travel insurance to space tourists. Plans aren't finalized but initial reports say that the travel insurance may cost customers about 700 Euros. The insurance will cover space training and reimbursing customers if they choose to cancel the trip.

In addition to space planes there are some companies that are planning to build space hotels in Earth orbit. Russian company Orbital Technologies announced in August that it will put a hotel in orbit 200 miles above Earth by 2016. The four-room hotel will house up to seven guests in the highest hotel in the solar system. A stay at the space hotel will cost about $1 million for five days.

"Space tourism is a real and fast-growing business," said Sergei Kostenko, head of Russian firm Orbital Technologies, said at the MAKS air show. "Whoever builds the first new spaceship now will reap big dividends."