While we haven't quite reached affordable commercial space travel, it’s on its way. Everyone is fascinated by space. There are countless movies, TV shows, books, and songs about space, space travel, and aliens. Space travel has been at the forefront of technology for decades. In the 1960’s it was common thought that space travel would one day become a huge tourist attraction, and that day is seemingly close.
What is Space Tourism?
Space tourism has been around since 1984 when Charles D. Walker became the first non-government astronaut in space. He flew to space three times for a private aerospace technology company, Mcdonnell Douglas. This event suggested that space tourism might one day be the next big trend in travel for the wealthy class.
Flash forward to 2020, and space tourism is on the rise for many wealthy travelers, but the majority of non-government space travel is done by researchers and students.
A rising trend today - which many aerospace companies are taking part in - is sending a payload of objects of your choosing to space. Researchers are sending equipment for experiments in their payloads, but anyone with a few million dollars to spend can send whatever they like into space.
The next goal for many major aerospace technology companies is sending private citizens into space. Some companies have started offering these packages as they work on ways to decrease the cost to orbit earth. These packages range from spending 11 minutes above the atmosphere, to spending 16 days on the International Space Station.
While it is still considered new territory, there are many companies participating in commercial space travel. Some of these companies include:
Space Adventures
The first private spaceflight company was founded in 1998. They have sent seven different private citizens to space on eight different flights.
Space Adventures offers four different experiences ranging in price from $20 million to $40 million.
1. Circumlunar Mission: Flies two citizens and an astronaut on a 16 day free return trajectory around the far side of the moon. You will experience being a couple hundred miles away from the surface of the moon, and seeing the earth rise above the moon’s surface.
2. Space Station: You will be flown on a 10 day mission to the International Space Station, which circles earth every 90 minutes. While in orbit you will be weightless and experience floating in your spacecraft.
3. Low Earth Orbit: Up to four private citizens can fly on this multi-day mission. You will experience flying through low earth orbit, and see the earth in a way no one has since NASA’s Gemini program.
4. Spacewalk: Once you have arrived at the International Space Station, you will have an opportunity to experience one of the highest points in an astronaut’s career. You will be able to leave the space station and float above the earth.
Space Adventures is currently developing ways to make space tourism more reliable and affordable.
Blue Origin
Founded in 2000 by Amazon CEO Jeff Bexos, this spaceflight company sends reusable launch vehicles into space. Through Blue Origin customers can send suborbital research and technology to space.
On board their New Shepard spacecraft, up to six people can experience an 11 minute flight above the atmosphere and view the earth below you.
They are developing a new orbital vehicle, called New Glenn which will take people and other payloads to orbit earth.
SpaceX
Founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk, this spaceflight company designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft into space. The ultimate goal of SpaceX is to enable humans to live on other planets.
SpaceX has begun offering a rocket rideshare program. For $1 million they will launch small satellites for customers. You can choose where you want your satellite to go in orbit, and how large of a port you require on the launch vehicle.
In February of 2020 the company announced a new partnership with Space Adventures to send private citizens further into space than ever before. The first missions are planned to be available in 2022, and cost upwards of $100 million.
Virgin Galactic
Sir Richard Branson founded Virgin Galactic in 2004 with the goal of making space tourism available to everyone.
They offer research flights for scientists, engineers, teachers, and students. Their suborbital vehicles have the capacity to take up to six people to space, or the equivalent mass and volume payload.
Private citizens can also sign up to orbit earth. All seats for the next mission have been reserved, however with a $1,000 deposit you can sign up for future missions.
Space Camp
If you are interested in space, but not interested in traveling to space, you might enjoy a space camp! And I know what you’re thinking, but space camp isn’t just for kids, and it’s a lot cooler than you’d think.
At Adult Space Academy you train like an astronaut over a three day weekend. Training starts with a ⅙ gravity chair, which simulates gravity on the moon, allowing you to hop around and float slowly back to the ground. You also fly in a multi-axis-trainer, which is essentially a spinning chair, but don’t worry, you won’t get sick since the chairs movement is random and it never repeats a movement.
You also have the opportunity to simulate being Mission Control, and being part of the space shuttle crew. You will suit up in heavy space suits complete with ice vests to keep your temperature down, and you will be tasked with completing a mission while in space.
At space camp you not only have the opportunity to experience life in space, but you also bond with your crew and create lifelong memories during your missions.
What is it Like Being in Space?
You might think one of the only differences to being on earth is feeling weightless, but there are many functions that change while in orbit.
The most notable differences include:
- Loss of fine motor skills
- You get taller because your spine stretches
- The water in your body moves to your head, making your body skinny and your head swollen. This can cause headaches and nausea
- Bones and muscles become weaker
- Food tastes different in space
- The backs of your eyeballs flatten
- When you sleep, you have to be strapped in so you don't float around the cabin
Health Considerations and Tour Tips
Coming back to earth after spending an extended period of time in space is hard on your body and mind.
Physiological effects include:
- Weakened bones and muscles make it difficult to walk once back on earth
- Visual impairment due to intracranial pressure
- Back and abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting as gravity changes
- Low bloof pressure
Psychological effects include:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Increased anxiety and stress
The effects of being in space worsen the longer you are in orbit, and recovery time once you are back on earth increases the longer you are in orbit. Space travel isn’t for everyone, even if you have the money to spend you might find the effects on your body and mind aren’t worth the experience.
If you’ve decided space tourism is on your bucket list, we’ve got a few tips:
- All of these programs have mandatory training periods that everyone must complete before space flight is possible
- Once in the air you will be treated like flight crew. You are responsible for maintaining communication and monitoring controls
- Space tourism flights are stillmostly theoretical. Those that are active could could still be considered experimental, and are highly cost prohibitive for most travelers
- For the cost, you won't be gone long. The longest space tour available is 16 days
History of Space Exploration
October 4, 1957
On this day, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) launched the first artificial satellite to orbit earth, called Sputnik. Sputnik was able to send out beeps from a radio transmitter while in orbit. The beeps were detectable to those on earth, so people all over the world knew that the satellite was truly in orbit.
November 3, 1957
The U.S.S.R. sent a second satellite, called Sputnik II into orbit, this time with a dog named Laika on board.
January 31, 1958
After two failed attempts at launching a satellite into space, the United States successfully launched the Explorer satellite into space. In October of 1958 the United States consolidated all space exploration activities into a new government agency called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
April 12, 1961
The first human to go to space was a U.S.S.R. astronaut named Yuri Gagarin. He made one orbit around earth on his 108 minute flight before returning to the ground. A few weeks after this launch, NASA sent astronaut Alan Shepard to space on a 15 minute suborbital trajectory.
July 16, 1969
NASA sends the first astronauts, Neil Armstong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to land on the moon on spaceflight Apollo 11. Neil Armstrong was the first man to step foot on the moon, and as he did so he spoke the famous words “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
April 19, 1971
The first space station in orbit was the Soviet Salyut 1, closely followed by NASA’s Skylab.
April 12, 1981
NASA sends the first winged space shuttle to orbit earth and return to airport landing.
December 21, 1988
Soviet Astronauts, Vladimir Titov and Musa Manarov return to earth after spending 365 days on the world’s longest space flight.
As it stands, space tourism is only available to the wealthy. Even affordable space travel will likely cost several million dollars.
Luckily if you’re not a millionaire, you can still enjoy the wonder of space through movies like Star Trek, Alien, First Man and The Martian.
