About four in ten Americans say they would definitely or probably be interested in orbiting the Earth in a spacecraft in the future, according to one Pew Research Center survey.
However, when it comes to the reality of the matter and the potential that space tourism may have for the future, there is a lot to unpack. From the reality that it’s become in recent news to the important considerations and potential that space travel has for the future, here’s what you need to know.
A new reality
Space travel isn’t anything new, and neither is the concept of space tourism. In fact, the world’s first space tourist happened to be Dennis Tito, who went to space back in 2001. Stating that it was the “best experience of his whole life” and noting that he enjoyed looking out the window and videoing the Earth, the trip was undoubtedly unlike any standard vacation that people are used to taking. However, the reality of going to space is becoming more and more mainstream, with wealthy individuals like Virgin CEO Richard Branson and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently taking their own flights to space in July of this year. Although a trip to space in any capacity is quick to be considered the experience of a lifetime and is a possibility today, it’s important to keep in mind that although the idea of commercial space travel to the moon will be actualized soon, there will be limitations. For example, space tourism is still going to be extremely expensive, meaning that this type of travel will likely set the stage for a whole new kind of luxury vacation that’s limited to the world’s wealthiest individuals. However, regardless, there are still important considerations that raise valuable questions.
Important considerations
Whether you plan to take the trip of a lifetime to space when it does become more mainstream or you’re simply interested in the concept, there are a number of things that should be explored. For example, with claims that space vessels may become the world’s biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions, protecting the environment is a real concern. Additionally, while the simple act of going to space for a vacation is an experience in itself, the question as to what kind of activities that people will be able to do while on a space vacation are still up in the air. In addition to legal considerations, these subjects highlight just how much needs to be considered as this sector becomes even more of a reality.
The future of space travel
With the space tourism market expected to be worth at least a whopping $3 billion by the year 2030, it’s clear that space travel holds a lot of promise for the future – and perhaps some drawbacks. For example, the flight that Jeff Bezos was on was what is considered to be a suborbital flight that lasted just over a short ten minutes. With commercial suborbital trips being likely to be the subsector to materialize first in terms of space tourism, the experience does have its drawbacks in regards to being short and sweet. In other news, space travel may be able to transform how we get around on Earth, too. SpaceX, for instance, has plans to use its Starship rocket to fly 100 people around the world in minutes, something that could revolutionize the way that people travel large distances.
There’s no doubt that space travel is captivating the interest of many potential future astronauts out there. As developments continue, the future of space tourism is slowly becoming a reality, with wealthy individuals like Bezos taking the trip of a lifetime.
