The desire to explore the universe is as old as human history itself. As one of humanity’s greatest feats, space travel has come a long way from 1961. Although space exploration has historically been accessible to few, that may change with space tourism.
Space tourism sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi film, but it has been around for over 20 years. Space tourism refers to human space travel for recreational purposes, with there being several types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital, and lunar space tourism. It first began in 2001, when American businessman and engineer Dennis Tito was recognized as the world’s first space tourist after he arrived at the International Space Station via a Russian Soyuz rocket. In subsequent years, several others have gone on to join him on the exclusive list, consisting mainly of millionaires and businessmen. A journey to the ISS is now estimated to cost about 20 to 25 million US dollars, and a journey to the Moon is around 70 to 100 million. Currently, the chances of someone who is not a multi-millionaire being a space tourist are pretty low-however, space exploration companies are looking to change that.
Suborbital spaceflight dominated the market in 2022, accounting for 49.3% of the space tourism industry. It aims for an altitude of 300,000 feet, where outer space “begins” from Earth. The current two competitors in suborbital spaceflight are Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, both of which have spacecraft capable of carrying up to six passengers per flight. Unlike suborbital spaceflight, which only gives passengers a few moments in space, orbital spaceflight allows passengers to spend a few days or even a week in outer space at an altitude of over 1.3 million feet, allowing passengers to get a view of Earth and experience a feeling of weightlessness.
However, there are some concerns surrounding the idea of expanding the industry. One such concern is about its impact on the environment. The increased space travel traffic may result in a significant rise in emission of toxic gasses if the space travel vehicles are powered by fossil fuels. In addition, the high volume of space vehicles may lead to increased debris in the orbital and suborbital pathways. Another concern is the high expense of space tourism, as most space missions cost 10 to 20 million dollars or even more, depending on the mission. SpaceX has pioneered rocket reusability, significantly reducing space launch costs. One major example of this is Falcon 9, the world’s first orbital class reusable rocket, allowing SpaceX to reuse its most expensive parts, missions, significantly reducing the cost of space access. Innovations in propulsion, such as more efficient engines and more sustainable fuels, have improved the sustainability of space travel, as shown with newly developed first-generation nuclear cryogenic propulsion systems created by NASA, which could help to reduce exposure to harmful radiation and provide more efficient space travel. For safety concerns, robust fire detection systems and advancements in rocket technology and spacesuit quality are looking to make space exploration safer for a wider audience.
Space exploration is no longer a dream. It has become a reality, although for the privileged few who can afford the high cost for now. People today can be optimistic that the day space is accessible to everyone is not too distant into the future.
