What is Space Tourism, How Much it Costs & Future of Space Travel?

Who wouldn't want to be an astronaut? Space tourism lets you experience what it's like to be in space. Instead of just watching space adventures on TV or online, you can go and see Earth from space, feel the real weightlessness and live an astronaut’s life.

Some companies offer trips to space for prices ranging from $200,000 to $50 million. But as technology gets better, going to space might become cheaper in the future.

Here, let’s get an idea of what space tourism really is and how it works.

Space tourism is a specialised sector within the aviation industry that enables tourists to embark on space travel for recreational or business purposes. This experience caters to a select group of consumers due to its exorbitant costs.

Options for space tourists include high-altitude jet fighter flights, atmospheric zero-gravity flights, short-duration suborbital flights, and longer-duration orbital trips into space.

Space tourism began in the late 1990s when MirCorp, a Russian company managing the space station Mir, teamed up with Space Adventures Ltd. to offer trips to space. Dennis Tito became the first paying passenger, but his trip was redirected to the International Space Station (ISS) after Mir was deorbited.

Some reasons behind people’s interest in space tourism include the vision of Earth from space, the feeling of weightlessness, high-speed experiences, unusual experiences, and scientific contributions.

Currently, only high-altitude jet fighter flights and zero-gravity flights are available for tourists, but there might be longer trips to space in the future.

There are two types of human space tourism.

1. Orbital Space Tourism

Orbital space tourism involves taking a spacecraft, known as orbital spaceflight, to a speed and altitude that allows it to remain in orbit around a planet, such as the Earth.

Seven civilians visited the International Space Station between 2001 and 2009, and the Inspiration4 mission orbited the Earth for three days in 2021.

2. Suborbital Space Tourism

Suborbital space tourism involves taking a spacecraft to the edge of space but not fast enough to enter orbit. In this type of space tourism, passengers get to feel weightlessness for a few moments with a mesmerising view of Earth.

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo and Blue Origin’s New Shepard are two spaceflights involved in suborbital space tourism. Both have successfully carried passengers to altitudes above 80 km above the Earth in 2021.

• SpaceX: Founded by Elon Musk, this private space company has launched over 100 missions to orbit, including 10 crewed flights to the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA astronauts and private citizens.
• Virgin Galactic: A spaceflight company founded by Richard Branson that offers suborbital flights to the edge of space on its SpaceShipTwo vehicle, launched from a carrier plane called WhiteKnightTwo.
• Blue Origin: A top competitor to Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin was founded by Jeff Bezos. It offers suborbital flights on its New Shepard rocket and capsule, which can carry up to six passengers to an altitude of over 100 km.
• Boeing Company: An aerospace company that has partnered with NASA to develop the CST-100 Starliner, a crew capsule that can transport up to seven passengers to the ISS and other low-Earth orbit destinations.
• Zero 2 Infinity: This space company provides access to near space with stratospheric balloons, human space travel, and a dedicated nanosatellite launcher. The company’s main product is Bloon, a pressurised capsule that can carry up to four passengers and two pilots to an altitude of 36 km.
• Space Adventures: Founded in 1998, Space Adventures is a private spaceflight company that has arranged for nine private citizens to fly to and live in space on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft in partnership with the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
• World View: World View Enterprises is an Arizona-based company that aims to take people to the stratosphere with a balloon-based system. The typical ride is estimated to last six to eight hours and take passengers to an altitude of at least 100,000 feet.

Spacecraft innovations have enabled aerospace companies to provide commercial space tourism for the general public, who can afford it physically and financially.

Space tourists undergo thorough health evaluations to ensure they can withstand the physical demands of space travel. The person’s cardiovascular health, bone density, and overall fitness are assessed.

As coping with isolation, confinement, and stress is crucial for space tourists, they train at specialised facilities for several situations. The training includes experiencing microgravity, using simulators, and practising emergency procedures. For example, Russia’s Star City complex has trained astronauts and space tourists for decades.

Furthermore, space tourists undergo pre- and post-flight medical assessments to identify any health risks.

The cost of a week-long trip to space can vary massively. To book a Virgin Galactic spaceflight seat, one must pay $450,000 now. Meanwhile, the tickets for Blue Origin and SpaceX spaceflights currently cost up to $28 million and $50 million, respectively.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to start space tourism, which is expected to cost around ₹6 crore for one ticket.

However, with the advancement of technology, the price of suborbital flights might drop closer to $100,000 for a person in the next decade, according to experts' predictions.

Currently, the focus in space tourism is primarily on suborbital flights. Companies like Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Boeing, and SpaceX are constantly evolving their operations for orbital space tourism.

NASA's commercial crew program aims to promote private human space access, with plans for SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner to transport tourists to the ISS at a cost of $35,000 per day.

There are emerging plans for luxury orbital hotels and moon loop flights as well, with significant public interest in spending time in space. Despite high costs, increasing capabilities and interest suggest a promising future for space tourism.

Digital tours of space destinations are also available, offering a more accessible and safer alternative to physical space tourism.

Space tourism combines adventure, scientific progress, and the thrill of exploring the cosmos. As technology advances and costs decrease, more people may experience the wonders of space firsthand.