Introduction
Paper Overview
Since time immemorial, man has always sought to explore other parts of the world and space has not been an exception. While traveling to space has for a long time been a preserve for scientists, a new crop of travelers has come up, that is space tourists. Different space travel companies have thus engaged themselves in extensive research to make this happen for interested private citizens. This research seems to have paid off as there has been progress in the development of sub orbital space vehicles, which will enable people to make such trips.
This paper seeks to provide an overview of the space tourism industry, determine the advantages and disadvantages of various aspects of the industry, take a look at some of the major players of industry with the main focus being on those who are on their way to success when it comes to the provision of sub orbital flights, the main challenges they face, and eventually determine the level of success they have achieved so far and what more needs to be done for complete success to be achieved in this industry.
Space Tourism
Space Tourism refers to the process by which ordinary members purchase tickets from allowed companies to travel to space for leisure purposes (Conrady & Buck 215). Even though the opportunities for space tourism are at the moment limited and expensive, there is a promise for growth. Many of the players in the industry have started with short sub orbital trips as their focus, before venturing into full orbit flights which are more expensive and risky in future. In sub orbital trips, the flight reaches space but does not make a complete orbit around the earth (Kortenkamp & Fox 11).
Background Information
Even though the idea of space tourism has been around for a long time, there is no specific time line in which space tourism can be said to have began. Dennis Tito’s visit to the International Space Station has been documented as the first instance of space tourism (Conrady & Buck 215-216). His visit took place in 2001 after which a number of other individuals also paid for their trips to space.
Benefits of the Space Tourism Industry
The space tourism industry has time and again been described as having the potential for growth and with such growth come benefits which include the following:
Economic Benefits: In as much as the space tourism industry is expensive to establish and maintain it also comes with huge economic benefits for any country which dares to invest in it. Governments can be able to gain a lot in terms of taxes from the income the industry generates as well as the taxes of industries that are associated with the space tourism industry. Since a lot has already been invested into the industry, it is time for the commercial realization associated with the industry to be exploited. This will open new opportunities for businesses to exploit space resources with the promise of profitability which will in turn develop into economic growth and development for countries (Collins para. 46-47).
Employment: The growth of the space tourism industry holds the potential to create employment for people at various levels such as the manufacturing industry for space vehicles, researchers, satellite developers and the technology industry which has direct links to the space travel industry, and all other employment creation benefits that come with the establishment of new industries (Collins para. 34).
Technology Advancement: The development of the space tourism industry will bring about the necessity for new technologies and innovations, giving room to new inventions and innovations as well as technological advancement in the industry as a whole.
Disadvantages of the Space Tourism Industry
- Profitability: The space tourism industry requires a lot of investment in different areas such as research, manufacturing, technology advancement, employment, service provision among other. These investments require a lot of money from the companies involved and in most cases the returns do not match up to the level of investment that has been undertaken. This means that such companies’ profitability is greatly affected.
- Cost: The space tourism industry is expensive especially for those willing to take trips into space. This therefore limits the number of people who can actually afford to make such trips.
- Risk: The risk associated with space travel is huge not only in terms of accidents, but also in terms of human health, as a result of the effect of changes in gravity levels, changes in oxygen levels and the like. Prolonged stay in space has been known to lead to bone loss and anemia.
Companies in the Space Tourism Industry
Due to an increase in the number of people willing to visit space as tourists, several companies have come up to invest in the space tourism industry in order to fulfill such peoples’ dreams and at the same time reap the benefits associated with facilitating such trips.
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration is a branch of the US government charged with the duty of undertaking operations associated with aeronautics, civilian space programs and aerospace research operations. NASA has also been drawn into the sub orbital space tourism business and is also investing in the establishment of commercial flights for interested parties (Klotz para. 1-2).
Virgin Galactic
This company was established as a part of the Virgin Group founded by Richard Branson and its main agenda is to offer sub orbital flights to space tourists, space scientists undertaking small missions as well as the launch of satellites into space. The company also has future plans of offering full orbital flights to space tourists. It is important to note that the company is still testing its flights and is yet to establish fully operational commercial flights (Virgin Galactic para. 4-5).
Others
Other companies associated with the space tourism industry and are investing in the provision of sub orbital space flights include the Alliant Techsystems Inc, Orbital Sciences Corporation and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Astrium Company (EADS Astrium).
Civilians who have previously flown to Space
Among the individuals who have been able to fly into space as space tourists are:
- Dennis Tito: He visited the ISS (International Space Station) as a space tourist in 2001 for a total of seven days and is said to be the first documented space tourist, having paid for all his expenses aboard the Soyuz TM-32. The visit was organized by Space Adventures Limited.
- Mark Shuttleworth: Mark is a South African national who flew out into space in the year 2002 aboard the Russian Soyuz TM-34 and spent eight days in the ISS conducting research.
- Anousheh Ansari: She was the first female space tourist to visit the ISS aboard the Soyuz TMA-9 and is of Iranian-American Decent. Her visit lasted for eight days and was spent conducting experiments for the European Space Agency.
Documentary film: “Space Tourist”
This documentary was created by Christian Frei, a Swiss film director, whose main area of operation is the space tourism industry, including the various survival training sessions that space tourists undergo before taking their flights. In this film, he captures the story of Anousheh Ansari’s visit to space as well as her stay in the ISS. He also shows different perspectives regarding the space tourism industry including its strengths and weaknesses, in a bid to determine whether the flights are worth the money paid to take them.
The Importance of the Space Tourism Industry
- Technological Improvement: The space tourism industry paves way for technological development and improvement as companies continue to invest in the manufacture of technologies that will facilitate smooth running of operations in the industry and ensure that such operations are carried on in an efficient and effective manner. For example the development of satellite communication technology and development in the transport and distribution industry as special vehicles will be required to move the different equipment to different regions, as well as the space launch machinery (US GAO 49).
- Something New: Space tourism offers the world a new way of exploring planet earth as opposed to the opportunities presented by conventional tourism. The aerial view of the earth gives people a new perspective of the earth and enables them to come up with new ideas on how space tourism can be used to explore the resources available in space.
- Exploration of Space: Space forms an important part of humanity and its exploration can pave way to an unlimited number of discoveries which can work in favor of humanity.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Space Tourism
Space tourism brings with it the following advantages:
Infrastructure
Space tourism acts as a platform for building infrastructure especially in the space industry as well as other industries related to it, such as the information technology industry, manufacturing industry and service provision industry.
Technological Advancement
Looking back at the time when the concept of space tourism started taking shape and comparing the level of technology that was available then and comparing it with present day technology in the industry, it is evident that a great deal of technological advancement has taken place. With this kind of advancement comes the promise of even greater advancement that will facilitate cheaper flights to sub orbital space and even orbital space for all those who are willing to tour space.
Is the Level of Technology Advancement Enough to Facilitate the Success of Space Tourism?
In as much as technology advancement has come a long way, it is not yet at the point where it can enable the full success of the space tourism industry. More still needs to be done and it can only be done through further investment in research by both the government and private companies. Further technology advancement will enable cheaper flights and thus more tourists which in turn will lead to increased business opportunities and better profits for the investors in this industry.
Disadvantages of Space Tourism
- Pollution: So far space tourism has not attracted much attention from environmentalists as tourism flights are not consistent. Companies engaged in the development of space vehicles are also investing in building green rockets that will reduce pollution levels in the environment. But in future when space flights become cheaper, there will be a need to address the pollution issue as this will mean that more people will be able to afford flights thereby increasing the frequency of space travel and in effect causing a rise in the level of pollution to the atmosphere.
- Global Warming: This phenomenon is largely associated with the emission of green house gasses into the atmosphere. The conventional airline industry has been blamed for its contribution to the emission of these gases leading to global warming and this raises concern that space vehicles will cause even greater omission of such gases. This should therefore be avoided at all costs to prevent the devastating effects of global warming on the general environment.
Danger
The danger associated with space tourism is evident because if mechanical problems occur on the space vehicles when they are flying at very high altitudes then the chances of passengers surviving are very slim if any. Necessary precautions should thus be taken to avoid problems associated with such risks.
Price
The current price as it stands for traveling to space is twenty million US dollars per space tourist. When the industry develops further, the cost is expected to reduce to around two hundred thousand US dollars for a forty five minute visit to sub orbital space. This means that even then, many people will still be locked out of this tourism industry as it will still be expensive to most people.
Reusability of Ships
Re usability of space tourism ships still remains a largely elusive issue as companies continue to invest in research that will enable them to come up with technologies that will build re usable ships. This will translate to lower costs of manufacture and as such improve the companies’ profitability.
To What Extent Should the Government help with the Space Tourism Industry?
The government should make reasonable contributions to the space tourism industry as it is set to benefit when the industry succeeds in terms of tax collection, which will enable it to finance its annual budget. The government can also invest in the space tourism industry by cutting down the taxes levied on associated industries so as to reduce the costs going into establishing and running the industry. This will lead to the entry of new players, paving way for increased competition among the industry players (Aldrin para. 25-26).
This does not however mean that such contributions to the industry should be made at the expense of others like the transport industry in the construction of rail roads and bridges, the health or education sectors.
Importance of the Space Tourism Industry to a Country’s Citizens
In as much as the space industry is seen as a preserve of the rich, it has its benefits to the ordinary citizens as well, as the economic benefits of this industry are set to trickle down to the people thereby improving their living standards. It also creates employment for a country’s people, in the industry itself as well as associated industries.
Virgin Galactic
The Concept and Information of Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is committed to providing transportation for private space tourists and has thus been engaged in the design and manufacture of spaceships that will enable this to happen, at an affordable cost.
The Success of Its Flights
In 2009, the company unveiled its SS2 (Space Ship Two) which had been made with major improvements compared to its first space ship unveiled in 2004 (SS1). The SS2 is created in such a way that it will be able to carry up to eight people, two being astronauts and six being passengers (Virgin Galactic para. 2-3). Both ships have been successfully tested for sub orbital flights.
The Demand and Progress for the Company’s Space Ships
The company has experienced constant demand for its flights even though they are yet to commence. The company is also making progress as far as the development of mother spaceships and more space ship twos’ is concerned in order to increase its fleet number.
Competition
Virgin galactic faces competition from already existing companies looking to make their mark in the space tourism industry and as such continued innovation and investment is necessary so that it can come up with flight packages that will enable it to acquire and maintain a competitive advantage over its main competitors as well as new entrants into the market.
Future Plans
Virgin Galactic has time and again predicted success in the industry and as such is continuously investing in the industry in order to achieve this success. It hopes to do this by increasing the number of space vehicles in its name so as to facilitate the constant availability of space vehicles for its potential customers when it launches its sub orbital flights.
Works Cited
Aldrin, Buzz. “Hearing on Space Tourism: Testimony by Buzz Aldrin”. 2001. Web.
Collins, Patrick. “The Economic Benefits of Space Tourism”. 2006. Web.
Conrady, Roland & Buck, Martin. Trends and issues in Global Tourism 2007. New York: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2007. Print.
Klotz, Irene. “NASA Wants in on Suborbital Space Rides: Agency Interested in Science and Three- to Five-Minute Suborbital Hops”. 2009. Web.
Kortenkamp, Steve. & Fox, Barbara. Space Tourism: Incredible Space Series. Minnesota: Capstone press, 2009. Print.
United States Government Accountability office. Commercial Space Launches: FAA Needs Continued Planning and Monitoring to Oversee the Safety of the Emerging Space Tourism Industry. Pennsylvania: DIANE Publishing, 2006. Print.
Virgin Galactic. “VSS Enterprise’s first ‘captive carry’ flight”! 2010. Web.
Virgin Galactic. “Virgin Galactic Unveils Space Ship Two, the World’s First Manned Commercial Spaceship”. 2009. Web.