Space expeditions have a high degree of risk for human beings (Bensoussan 1633). Despite all the progress that society has already made, it should be highlighted that the area of spaceflights still demands further research, improvement, development, and advance. Although the question regarding the safety seems to be in priority, there are certain arguments against this statement. However, talking about space tourism, security receives a major concern. The primary purpose of the paper is to critically discuss the importance of the safety of space tourism and evaluate whether it hinders the progress and development of the technology.
The ongoing debates are centered on finding the possible resolution concerning the problem regarding the correlation between increasing costs and safety. On the annual conference on space transportations, Jim Muncy stated that reducing the costs of protection is not appropriate because the security of a human being should receive the highest concern and value (Foust para. 7). Although the statement is reasonable on the one hand, on the other hand, talking about spaceflight, people should take into consideration that it is impossible to eliminate the risks and reduce the number of accidents to zero (Foust para. 10).
Space tourism becomes popular and in 2009, a lot of efforts have been put to make the first commercial journey to space in 2012 (Bensoussan 1633). The improvement of safety will be beneficial for the extension of the space travel market. Tourism is traveling around known safe places. The primary point of tourism is safety and comfort because not so many people are ready to pay for risks and being in extraordinary conditions. It should be highlighted that there are fewer people who will climb the Everest in comparison to those who will go to Hawaii. The popularity of a place depends on the level of service, comfort, and security. The situation is in regards to science, as the risk factor plays a significantly important role in this area. In other words, tourism is the systematic repetition of the well-known routes with breathtaking views and landmarks, where everyone wants to come back to. Whereas, for the sake of science, astronauts are ready for experiments and take the risk for further improvement and development.
Not long ago, space travel was only possible in fiction, however, due to technological progress; it became possible almost for everyone who can afford it. If I was giving a chance, I would like to go to space to evaluate and feel the significance of life on the earth. Having an opportunity to look on the home planet from space will likely prove how minor problems are and how limitless the world is, the world of knowledge, development, and space.
In conclusion, it should be stressed that the issue regarding the safety of the spaceflights is controversial and demands the solution. Taking into consideration the stated above arguments, it is worth stating that at some point protection is an obstacle towards the progress. I do not profess to be an expert concerning the subject, but I am strongly convinced that the development of safety technologies should keep pace with technological advances. Every breakthrough is accompanied by overcoming difficulties and challenges. The fear of changes and failing is the fundamental obstacle towards technical improvement. Space tourism is made for people to enjoy and the risk should be reduced to the minimum.
Works Cited
Bensoussan, Denis. “Space Tourism Risks: A Space Insurance Perspective.” Acta Astronautica 66.11 (2010): 1633-638. Print.
Foust, Jeff. “Balancing Safety and Cost in Commercial Human Spaceflight.” The Space Review. 2014. Web.