Space Travel and Tourism: New Frontiers

Space tourism is definitely here for real. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is all set to begin two-and-a-half-hour sub-orbital spaceflights by 2009, based on a breakthrough achieved by an American company called Scaled Composites. In 2004, this company created history by sending a man into space for the first time in a privately built spacecraft. Further, SpaceX and Rocketplane Kistler are developing low-cost reusable orbit launchers under a contract from NASA, which would facilitate orbital space tourism. Bigelow Aerospace plans to launch an orbital space hotel by 2010. And there are many other private companies in the race.How big would the space tourism business grow to be? It is too early to say. The business can grow only if it has adequate demand and is profitable. Also, space travel is as yet extremely risky, and risk reduction entails costs. While sub-orbital and orbital space tourism may stand on their own, tourism to moon or mars may have to be cross-subsidized by other profitable space ventures. Space tourism is in its infancy, but is propelled by many spirited and excited entrepreneurs and technologists. No one had anticipated the phenomenal growth of the commercial airline industry. For all we know, despite the many challenges, space tourism could indeed be the next big business in the making.