The First Space Tourist was Dennis Tito. The age of Space Tourism began with the first visit at the international space station. The second space tourist was Mark Shuttleworth who also visted the ISS. Virgin Galactic plans to commence sub-orbital space flights by 2008/2009.
In foreseeable future, Space Tourism will be accessible to millionaires! Russia's Energia and Mircorp plan to have 1 week space voyages using the Soyuz-TM as the spacecraft.
Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic plans to commence sub-orbital space flights by 2007/2008. Virgin Galactic is licensing the SpaceShipOne technology which won the $10m Ansari X Prize. The Winning the X-Prize compeition has paved way for Virgin Galactic to launch people space tourists on sub-orbital flights.
What next?
The next step is, we need to bring Space Tourism to the Public. At present prices, it is not commerically viable to pursue this option. Hopefully in the future the everyday person will be able to journey to space on a regular basis. Virgin Galactic flights will cost about 200,000 USA dollars in 2009.
Ideas?
Use the Space Shuttles' cargo bay to carry tourists in Space.
If cheap reusable launch vehicles are developed or revived such as Pionner's Rocketplane, Ascender, the Roton and Astroliner, or NASA's second generation space shuttle, then these will have the ability to carry space tourists!
To really kick-start space tourism we need a space vehicle that can take off and land at an airport. For example, a commercial derivative of the cancelled X-30.
In the distant future, we may use space elevators to get to orbit and if its possible we might be able to beam in space like in Star Trek " Beam me up Scotty". Time will only tell.
Visit the Space Projects Yahoo Club - Add your comments on Space Tourism and what you think will happen in the future.
Books
Making Space Happen: Private Space Ventures and the Visionaries
Behind Them by Paula Berinstein
From Amazon.com,
Amazon.co.uk,
Bn.com
Space
Tourism : Adventures in Earth's Orbit and Beyond by
Michel van Pelt (June 2005)
Amazon.com,
Amazon.co.uk,
Amazon.ca,
eCampus.com
Howstuffworks "How Space Tourism Will Work":
Travel and Tourism Home Page: NASA
Spacetopia-Japan's First Space Tourism Company:
Space Elevators, Space Hotels, and Space Tourism:
MirCorp: Operate Mir
Virgin Galactic: Official Website
Reference:
MirCorp: Picture Soyuz-TM with Mircorp Logo.
Any
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Copyright © 2000-2008 Vic Stathopoulos. All rights reserved.
Updated: Sunday 13th, April, 2008