Space exploration may have once been an affair reserved for only the most elite government-sponsored programs. But in this era of billionaires and privately-funded enterprises, the prospect of space tourism is inching closer to reality than ever. For anyone who’s ever dreamed of touching the stars, it’s sure to be an exhilarating opportunity.
What is Space Tourism?
Space tourism is the term given to flights or trips into outer space offered by private companies. Rather than being government-funded, these enterprises are being financed by brands such as Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, and Blue Origin. The purpose of these trips isn’t about scientific discovery or exploration, but rather for the thrill of it all.
What to Expect
As of today, commercial space tourism isn’t really here yet. The few space flights that have taken place have only been experienced by billionaires who paid to take their own spacecraft on orbiting joyrides. However, tourism specialists are already preparing for the day when space flights are an accessible travel option for regular folks. Virgin Galactic is currently taking conditional bookings for their flights, which they dub as “sub-orbital spaceflights”. These trips will take passengers into space for a few brief minutes, offering views of the Earth from a height of more than 62 miles above the surface. While the duration of these initial flights may be brief, it’s certainly a great step forward.
The Future
As technology advances, it’s entirely possible that space tourism will become more widespread and popular. NASA recently announced that they have approved private astronaut missions to the International Space Station, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities. As for how much a trip to space may cost in the future, that remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure – for those with the means and desire to go, space tourism is becoming a reality at a faster rate than ever before.
The Final Verdict
From brief moments of weightlessness to gazing out of a spacecraft’s window at the Earth, space tourism has the potential to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The future of space tourism is still not completely clear, but it seems to be heading in a truly exciting direction. So, are you up for a ride to the stars?
