Space Tourism: Everything about the Tourism of the Future
When asked what space tourism is, this question may evoke a science fiction scenario for many people. However, as a result of scientific studies conducted today, this is not difficult at all. If the question was asked 20 years ago whether space tourism was possible, almost everyone's answer would be similar. Today, space tourism is among the subjects that are seriously examined and defined. International space activities must undoubtedly have a share in this development momentum. As a result of scientific studies and high-budget research, it is now possible to do space tourism.
So, what does this tourism, which is completely different from swimming on the sands of a warm beach, say? Tourism means that people travel for various purposes in the region where they live. The purpose of these trips is sometimes for commercial and cultural purposes, and sometimes for relaxation. Sometimes it takes place as a winter holiday from a warm region to a relatively cold region. Sometimes it has a form called sea tourism, which is carried out to hot regions. So, what does space tourism, which means going outside the world we live in, mean?
What is the Historical Origin of Space Tourism?
The sky and the spaces behind it have been among the subjects of interest throughout human history. It is possible to take this interest back to the days when people began to live nomadic or settled lives. While the sky sometimes describes divine things, it has sometimes become the most intriguing area of science. The beyond has preserved its mystery for the hundreds of thousands of years that humans have spent on earth. This is exactly why this mystery has managed to attract various curiosity and interest. It is quite easy to detect this situation in the products resulting from cultural production.
Space-related products have been produced in literature, theatre, cinema and many other branches of art. These products have always continued to be preferred due to their mystery. Today, it is possible to say that this interest has reached an immense level in the light of scientific and technological developments. Space tourism may undoubtedly be one of the final stages of this. Pack your suitcase and go to space? Why wouldn't it be possible? This has been triggered by the complete discovery of the world and the increasing standardization of places to visit for some people.
What is Space Tourism and What Does It Mean?
When asked what space tourism is, our answer will be the result of an endless search for adventure. Indeed, space tourism is a developing field for those in search of adventure and mystery. Thanks to humanity's knowledge, it has become very easy to go from one place to another in the world today. This has become possible thanks to high-speed trains, ships traveling across oceans and planes traveling across continents. It is very easy to reach anywhere in the world today for those who have unlimited economic power.
This is possible for some people living in countries with welfare economies. Interest in extraterrestrial tourism is exactly the instinctive curiosity felt outside. While this curiosity first involved space as a subject for scientific studies, today it means travelling. Travels to areas beyond our atmosphere are considered under the umbrella of space tourism. This tourism can be done for many different reasons. Of course, the most valid reason is to discover it. Of course, let's add before we forget that even space tourism is separate within itself.
What are the Types of Space Tourism?
Before we can answer the question of what space tourism is, various branches of this tourism have begun to emerge. This continues to show us how much humanity's knowledge has developed. Space tourism, which means traveling outside the Earth's atmosphere, has several different forms. Today, space tourism is carried out in two different ways. The first of these is touristic trips to follow scientific activities. The other one is the trips made by people who are accepted to stay on the spaceship and meet the conditions. These trips generally include touristic-cultural activities such as accommodation and spending time.
In this sense, it would not be wrong to say that space tourism has already become popular. The interest and curiosity of people who are interested in space and sky in this field continues to increase day by day. Many companies continue their activities in a leading position in this regard. In this way, it has become possible to form an idea about what space tourism is and its scope. Personal demands are also effective in space tourism, as in other types of travel on Earth. People's touristic purposes determine the route and meaning of the journey.
Who Will Travel Thanks to Space Tourism?
We are about to touch upon perhaps one of the most important points in terms of our topic. The question that is as important as the question of what is space tourism is, of course, who can do it. For whom is this journey, which is fundamentally different from any other form of travel, possible? We found this title necessary about the situations and conditions that may occur.
First of all, it should be clearly stated that space tourism is a high-budget activity. In this sense, it seems more possible now for people belonging to the upper class. We should point out that it is far from being realized on a mass scale, at least for now.
Lack of information about both the shelter areas of spaceships and collective living in space causes this.
Today, some companies are working in this field. They plan to send people into space, whom they choose through various lotteries. Of course, it is worth repeating that the prices are astounding. Tourists going to space are expected to meet various conditions. However, it has also been confirmed that they will have a crew with full knowledge.
Which are the leading companies operating in the field of space tourism?
Space tourism covers a very wide and comprehensive area. For this reason, the conditions and fees are quite high. There are much higher budgets for this area than for any other touristic business. We can say that the concrete steps of our topic “What is space tourism” begin after this phase. Of course, even the fuel costs of spaceships are at an astounding level.
Considering the maintenance of the ships, crew training and equipment, and accommodation preparations, it requires an unlimited budget. Although there are many companies working in this field, one of them stands out. Its name is SpaceX.
The company, owned by investor and billionaire Elon Musk, has been working in this field for a while. After the vehicle named Crew Dragon Demo 2 was launched into space in 2020, all eyes turned to the company. According to the company's statements, people will be able to start touristic activities through this station as of 2023. Apart from SpaceX, other companies operating in the field are Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. Blue Origin is owned by Jeff Bezos and Virgin Galactic is owned by the Virgin group of companies.
How far into the past does the beginning of space tourism go?
In our previous title, we tried to examine the companies operating in the field of space tourism. Within the scope of this title, we will try to focus on the history of space tourism activities. The title of what is space tourism naturally concerns this field as well. Space tourism has been talked about since 2006-2007. The first concrete steps were taken in these years. However, the years 2003-2004 were also important years in terms of pioneering activities in space tourism. During these years, there was great competition between the Russian Space Agency and the United States. MirCorp was the first company to issue tickets for travel to space in 2003.
The person who bought this historical ticket is a person named Dennis Tito. However, when the company suspended space travel, Dennis Tito started looking for a way to make an agreement with a different company. Tito, who signed an agreement with Space Adventures, is the first person to do this. In the following years, more than one person was sent to space. However, the competition between Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos' company Blue Origin has continued since these years. We wouldn't be wrong if we say that there is a breathtaking space race between the two companies.
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Space Tourist?
Tourism in its most general sense means traveling from one place to another for various purposes. Tourist is the name given to people who make this trip. So what is it like to be a space tourist? Who are called space tourists? People who are launched into space via shuttles as a result of space tourism studies are called space tourists. Of course, this trip has its challenges compared to a normal trip.
Fulfilling the flight conditions completely and meeting the high fees are among these. Today, to become a space tourist, you need to pay a down payment of approximately 200 thousand dollars.
You can think of this fee as a deposit fee only. This cross-border and even unlimited journey is not expected to become cheaper in the near future. Prices approaching millions of dollars are available for a full-fledged space travel. Considering the prices of the trip, it is possible to say that it is not very economical. It is unknown how the process will develop and how wage policies will be determined in the coming years. As can be seen, the cost of concretely answering and experiencing the question of what space tourism is is at an astounding level.
How Long Does Space Tourism Take to Realize?
Another question that is as curious as the question of what is space tourism is the duration of the travel. It's definitely quite different from going from one place to another with a handbag or suitcase. We are talking about a journey outside the Earth's atmosphere and staying on a space station. For this reason, it is true that there is a very complicated process, especially the preparation time. As a result of scientific studies today, journeys are limited to 15 minutes. However, it has been confirmed that companies have plans to increase this period in the future.
Being able to travel longer than an hour or even a week may be possible in the near future. According to the statements made by Jeff Bezos, the owner of Blue Origin, this situation seems to happen in the near future. In its statement, the company gave the good news of an 11-minute space tourism journey. Passengers taken to the spaceship are expected to complete the journey with the help of a capsule after being launched to an altitude of 100 km. Passengers who remain completely suspended in space in the capsule leaving the spaceship will have the opportunity to take photos and experience it.