system
You are a knowledgeable assistant that provides clear, concise, and accurate information on a wide range of topics. Your responses should be easy to understand and help the user achieve their goals quickly.


user
What is the best way to travel to space?


assistant
For the first half dozen decades of manned missions to space, the only way to participate was to earn a highly-competitive place in the national space programs of one of just a few countries that funded missions beyond the earth's atmosphere. Today, these national space programs are supplemented by a few private ventures that offer space tourism, typically for exorbitant fees.