People are dreamers. When Apollo 8 made in 1968 the first image of Earth from orbit, airline Pan Am started taking advanced bookings for its first flight to the moon. Futurologists, which speculated that the average family of the early 21st century would be able to enjoy a holiday on the Moon, were wrong, but future is coming. Space tourism seems inevitable.
Beginning in… U.S.S.R.
The beginning of space tourism was the Soviet space program. Intercosmos select few cosmonauts from Warsaw Pact members and some other countries allied or close to Soviet Union. Thanks to this program we have our first cosmonaut – Mirosław Hermaszewski. But Russia was not only one. NASA with her space shuttle program prepare few places for “payload specialists”: representatives of companies or institutions related with space exploration.
Business tourists
In 1984 consortium McDonnell Douglas, paying $40,000, sent his employee, Charles D. Walker, to space. In fact, he was the firs space tourist. One year later on the shuttle flown American MPs: Jake Garn, followed by Bill Nelson. When in early 1980s shuttle program expanded, NASA allow citizens without scientific or governmental roles to fly. In programs Teacher in Space, Journalist in Space participated a lot of people. Similar programs initiated Russian Space Agency, which needed money for development. In 1990 Toyohiro Akiyama, reporter of Tokyo Broadcasting System, was flown to Mir orbital station. He has been gaving a daily broadcast from orbit and performing experiments for Russian and Japanes companies. This trip cost $28 million. All of these people were paid by their employers, so they should by rather called “business tourists”.
First space torists
The first “fee-paying” space tourist was Dennis Tito, who visited International Space Station on April 28, 2001. He was followed in 2002 by South African computer millionaire Mark Shuttleworth. The third, in 2005, was Gregory Olsen, who tested on the orbit high-sensitivity cameras for his company. These flights operated Russian Soyuz spacecraft. In 2010, due to increase size of ISS crew, Russia halted orbital space tourism. All seats in spacecrafts are now needed for professional cosmonauts. However, tourist flights are planned to resume in 2013, when the number of Soyuz launches could rise to five a year.
Hopes of space tourism
Nowadays, after close of space shuttle program and because of lack of place in Soyuz spacecrafts, some people place hope in suborbital flights. Many companies propose vehicles that make suborbital flights peaking at an altitude of 100–160 kilometres. Passengers would experience three to six minutes of weightlessness and unforgettable view of the blue Planet. The first serious project was SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites. In 2004 he won special X Prize for projects connected with commercial space flights. But more well-knowed is Virgin Galactic, project of Richard Benson. He bought SpaceShipOne and designed V.S.S. Enterprise.
Enterprise is reusable spacecraft based on SpaceShipOne. He is attached to mother ship, which will climb to 50,000 feet. Then Enterprise detaches, turns rocket motors on accelerating the ship to three times the speed of sound and takes up over the Earth's atmosphere. There engines shut off – passengers ale weightless and can admire Earth from space. After four or five minutes gravity begin to drag the Enterprise back down to earth. The whole trip lasts up to one hour.
How much does it cost?
Ticket for journey in Enterprise costs $200,000. However, Space Adventures, who send Tito into space, announced that it will start similar flights to Virginn’s for $100,000. Experts says that in 10 years, the cost of a trip into space could drop to around $50,000. Is that good business? We have to know, that sending stuff into space costs NASA $20,000 per pound. “It's certainly profitable or we wouldn't be doing it,” calms Stephen Attenborough from Virgin Galactics. He might be right, because at least 80,000 people register and taken $50 million deposit even before first flight test.
They want to be cosmonauts
Who booked ticket to space? First mission will be, of course, with Branson and his children. Early flights scheduled also Angelina Jolie with Brad Pitt, Ashton Kutcher, Rubens Barrichello, Princess Beatrice and… Paris Hilton.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2012/jun/17/space-tourism-science-virgin-robin-mckie?INTCMP=SRCH
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/12/091208-virgin-galactic-spaceship-enterprise-branson/ http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2027613,00.html
Space tourism has definitely arrived. The market is established. The vehicles are flying. It's not a paper project.
- Stephen Attenborough, CEO of Virgin Galactic
Beginning in… U.S.S.R.
The beginning of space tourism was the Soviet space program. Intercosmos select few cosmonauts from Warsaw Pact members and some other countries allied or close to Soviet Union. Thanks to this program we have our first cosmonaut – Mirosław Hermaszewski. But Russia was not only one. NASA with her space shuttle program prepare few places for “payload specialists”: representatives of companies or institutions related with space exploration.
Business tourists
In 1984 consortium McDonnell Douglas, paying $40,000, sent his employee, Charles D. Walker, to space. In fact, he was the firs space tourist. One year later on the shuttle flown American MPs: Jake Garn, followed by Bill Nelson. When in early 1980s shuttle program expanded, NASA allow citizens without scientific or governmental roles to fly. In programs Teacher in Space, Journalist in Space participated a lot of people. Similar programs initiated Russian Space Agency, which needed money for development. In 1990 Toyohiro Akiyama, reporter of Tokyo Broadcasting System, was flown to Mir orbital station. He has been gaving a daily broadcast from orbit and performing experiments for Russian and Japanes companies. This trip cost $28 million. All of these people were paid by their employers, so they should by rather called “business tourists”.
First space torists
The first “fee-paying” space tourist was Dennis Tito, who visited International Space Station on April 28, 2001. He was followed in 2002 by South African computer millionaire Mark Shuttleworth. The third, in 2005, was Gregory Olsen, who tested on the orbit high-sensitivity cameras for his company. These flights operated Russian Soyuz spacecraft. In 2010, due to increase size of ISS crew, Russia halted orbital space tourism. All seats in spacecrafts are now needed for professional cosmonauts. However, tourist flights are planned to resume in 2013, when the number of Soyuz launches could rise to five a year.
Hopes of space tourism
Nowadays, after close of space shuttle program and because of lack of place in Soyuz spacecrafts, some people place hope in suborbital flights. Many companies propose vehicles that make suborbital flights peaking at an altitude of 100–160 kilometres. Passengers would experience three to six minutes of weightlessness and unforgettable view of the blue Planet. The first serious project was SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites. In 2004 he won special X Prize for projects connected with commercial space flights. But more well-knowed is Virgin Galactic, project of Richard Benson. He bought SpaceShipOne and designed V.S.S. Enterprise.
Read more about Virgin Galactic at www.virgingalactic.comJourney to the borders of space
Enterprise is reusable spacecraft based on SpaceShipOne. He is attached to mother ship, which will climb to 50,000 feet. Then Enterprise detaches, turns rocket motors on accelerating the ship to three times the speed of sound and takes up over the Earth's atmosphere. There engines shut off – passengers ale weightless and can admire Earth from space. After four or five minutes gravity begin to drag the Enterprise back down to earth. The whole trip lasts up to one hour.
How much does it cost?
Ticket for journey in Enterprise costs $200,000. However, Space Adventures, who send Tito into space, announced that it will start similar flights to Virginn’s for $100,000. Experts says that in 10 years, the cost of a trip into space could drop to around $50,000. Is that good business? We have to know, that sending stuff into space costs NASA $20,000 per pound. “It's certainly profitable or we wouldn't be doing it,” calms Stephen Attenborough from Virgin Galactics. He might be right, because at least 80,000 people register and taken $50 million deposit even before first flight test.
They want to be cosmonauts
Who booked ticket to space? First mission will be, of course, with Branson and his children. Early flights scheduled also Angelina Jolie with Brad Pitt, Ashton Kutcher, Rubens Barrichello, Princess Beatrice and… Paris Hilton.
Space travel agencies
XCOR from Mojave, California. They have Lynx, spacecraft designed to take off and land like a plane. In cockpit is room for just a pilot and one passenger. Firs commercial launches are planned in 2014.
Armadillo Aerospace from Texas. They are developing a vertical take-off rocket to carry customers on sub-orbital and, later on, full orbital flights.
Orbital Technologies from Russia. They announced constructing a Hotel in the Heavens - orbiting, four-room guest house. There will be no gravity, no alcohol and food only from microwave. But this view…
Space Adventures from USA. They already sent seven private citizens on orbital flights — which travel hundreds of thousands of miles, as opposed to sub-orbital's 100 miles, and last around 10 days.Do you think space tourism is a good business? If you were a rich man, would bought ticket for space journey? Do you think it's safe?
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2012/jun/17/space-tourism-science-virgin-robin-mckie?INTCMP=SRCH
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/12/091208-virgin-galactic-spaceship-enterprise-branson/ http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2027613,00.html
Is space tourism a good business? You gave the answer in your presentation- many rich people signed up to a flight even before first flight test. Organizers say it's profitable, despite the enormous costs. I think multitude of people dreams about visiting outer space. Over time, the cost will be lower and the tickets will be cheaper, so it will no longer be unattainable for far more people.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if space travelling is something interesting for me. Paying a lot of money for absence of gravity and a stunning view is, in my opinion, a bit overrated. But it's hard to say when I'm far away from being a rich person. If I had more money probably I would be very bored with things that now seem funny to me, so maybe space traveling would be an option ;)
I have no grounds for judging whether it is safe or not, I can only rely on specialists opinion. If anything goes wrong, their business will crush, so I believe they know what they're doing.
I think space tourism is a very good business, because people are becoming more and more interested in it and they want to flight to the moon. Moreover, the knowledge of the moon is bigger. It is magnificient for people who dream about space trip, but it isn’t cheap and not everybody can afford to realize their dreams.
ReplyDeleteIf I were rich, I wouldn’t buy a ticker for space journey, because I am not interested in it. I think that new technology is so good that it is safe and people shouldn’t be aware of space tourism.
I think that space tourism is good business. More and more people can afford it. People who have a lot of money want to use them. And what if they visit the whole world? They would like to see the space. Space travel is definitely an elite, is why many people choose to do it.
ReplyDeleteIf I was rich I would also decided on a cosmic journey. it was great to see the Earth from space. Surely it would be a unforgettable sight. I could also brag about the expedition friends. But the best would be the emotions accompanying the perilous journey.
I do not know if it is safe. There is a very high risk that something will go wrong, but then so many people did.
Probably I'll choose curiosity and excitement.
I agree with previous speakers that space tourism is a really good business. There is a lot of people fascinated by astronomy who dream about space trips and also a lot of people who are not interested in this kind of science but they are just curious. And despite the incredibly high prices, there is a huge demand for this type of adventures so that's why space tourism is very cost-effective. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford such a trip, because of the price. But maybe in the future space tourism will be more common and availble for more and more people.
ReplyDeleteFor me, even though I'm not a person who is interested in science and astronomy, it would be a great adventure to see the space and the Earth out of space. I think it would be an unforgettable experience. I would probably be scared, but I think it would be worth it.
Yes, I also agree that space turism is something really great. I can't even imagine a trip to space and it's becoming truth! There are many people interested in astronomy and they would probably do whatever it takes to go on a trip like that. Of course there is one big disadvantage - not everyone can afford this. This is, for sure, one in a lifetime experience but the costs are unbelievably high. But on the other hand you can feel the weightlessness by yourself! And another thing - is it really safe? Well, scientists made a big progress in this area so theoretically there is nothing to be scared of. One thing is sure: you will need the srong nerves! Summing it up I think it may work out.
ReplyDeleteSince everyone agrees that space tourism is a good business I don't feel like I have to repeat it :) People will be always curious about something that is new and unusual to them. Space trips aren't available for everyone and that's why they are so tempting that even persons like Paris Hilton want to experience it. When it comes to me I would love to go on a space trip, that would be certainly an absorbing adventure, but I don't think (even if I had money) that I would decide to spend them on that. I think that the price is excessive and I would rather help poor people. But if the trip costed as much as a flight ticket I guess I wouldn't hesitate.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wouldn't be afraid of its safety since nowadays technology is very advanced and it is still improving.
The owners of space companies and those who are engaged in plannig space tourism always sound so enthusiastic and you can think that in a couple of years everyone will be able to put their foot on the moon or experience lack of gravity in the space. But in fact, the market is developing relatively slow. It is far from being global and accessible. And in my opinion, considering space exploration in the last 5 decades, the advance is not satisfying. Since Neil Armstrong, through all these years, we are doing the same. Recently even NASA has closed its space shuttle project and now American astronauts are carried by Russian vehicles. It is definitely high time human went on Mars. Maybe it will become possible when huge companies interest in valuable natural resources of the red planet. And personally, I think it is more likely that first man on Mars will be from China or India rather than from US or Russia.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that such topic is covered. I would definitely go to space if I could afford it. It was my lifelong dream, since I pretty much grow up watching Star Trek :P. I'm very skeptical about dangers of space travel. Of course, it's not 100% safe, but so is driving, crossing street or smoking cigarets. Each can kill you, not in same way but with same effect. Risking life pointlessly is simply stupid, but I am very confident about current safety of space travel.
ReplyDeleteThere are many companies that offer spaceflight, and their number will only grow because. At least I hope, because that would make such flights cheaper. If there are already at least four, this can only get better.
To respond to people who say that nothing happened since times of Neil Armstrong, you are wrong. Distance could be reduced to orbit, at least in manned vessels, but steps in making new engines and materials are simply tremendous. Just because nowadays this topic is not popular, does not mean that there are no real accomplishments.
Space truism is a very good bines because, there will always be wealthy people who will have the money to fly in space. 10 years ago space fly is reservation allows for astronauts now through private companies we have a possibility to fly in space. Vergine is a example a that kind corporation if you have a many if you want fly the door is open.
ReplyDeleteI think that space tourism is a very good business. Nowadays more and more people are interested in space travel. Majority of people who dream about space trips have a lot of money .Another group- people who have interest in space traveling, is fascinated by Astronomy. Unfortunately , the prices are huge and only privileged one can afford it. Another ,important aspect of space tourism is the danger which is included. In our time, we still don’t have enough knowledge about space and we don’t have developed technology which can give us assurance, and confirm that this trip is not dangerous for us. Even the greatest admirers of the space did not want to end up like Laika.
DeleteNowdays more and more talk abaut space tourist. People like dreaming abaut someting which they can not afford. Next reason can be that people like something is unknown. Human beings are by nature very curious. Knowledge of astronomy is still expanding. I agree with point that space tourist must be incredible adventure. But it still is expensive. I don't know i decided on the trip if i will be rich some day because it is danger.
ReplyDeleteI think that space tourism is not only a good business but also a possibility to combine business with pleasure for all people that have been always dreaming about such an adventure. Of course, for a long time it will be pleasure only for very rich people. But I hope that the in future, companies that organizing such trips will use earned money to create new, better and cheaper ways to fly the space. When it will be cheaper maybe someday it will be possible to make a base on the moon or even on Mars… But of course it’s just a prediction and right now we have to envy all people that can afford such a trip.
ReplyDeleteI sure (yes sure), that space turism will become very popular in future, moreover I would even say that it will be possible to travel to another planet. We just have to do 2 thing to get it possible, create special kind of space ship that will be use as transport, and we have to create fuel for that ship, and that is bigger chalange, because nowadays fuels are not strong enough to get possible travel to other planet, atomic fuel is to risky in use. I'm only afraid that all of that space travel will be facultative in XXII century, so I realy wish that probably I never go into space, cause that could be realy amazing journey.
ReplyDeleteI think space travelling is one of the biggest steps for humanity and this is what the scientists should focus on (of course not only, medicine is quite important as well). Thanks to space science evolution we can see our world in all view on our own eyes which I find very excited. Moreover one day maybe we will be able to live on other planet...? In my opinion this is the hell of the bussiness, but who can afford to open one like that? And yes, I would definately go for the space travel.
ReplyDelete