On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first human to travel into space. He saw our planet in a way no one had ever seen before. Since then, only about 560 people have ventured into space, mostly trained astronauts who spent years preparing for their missions. But when will regular people like us get the chance to visit space? And what will we do once we get there? Let’s dive into the exciting future of space tourism and explore how private astronauts and reusable rockets could make space travel more accessible.
Since the dawn of space travel, only a few people have paid to go to space. In 2001, an American businessman named Dennis Tito spent $20 million for an 8-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA wasn’t keen on the idea of tourists in space, so Dennis trained with the Russians and flew on the Soyuz mission TM32 with two cosmonauts. He described the breathtaking moment when he first saw the Earth’s curve against the dark backdrop of space. During his stay, he conducted experiments and enjoyed the stunning view of our planet.
So far, only a small number of people have paid to visit space, but this could change soon. Several private companies are working on reusable spacecraft, which could significantly reduce the cost of space travel. For instance, Blue Origin is developing a spacecraft called ‘New Shepard’ specifically for space tourism. This capsule has six seats and features the largest windows ever seen in a spacecraft. During these flights, the rocket will soar up to 100 km in altitude before releasing the capsule. Passengers will experience weightlessness as the capsule reaches its peak. After a few minutes, they’ll return to their seats as the capsule re-enters the atmosphere.
Although these flights will be brief, the reusability of rockets could allow more people to experience space for around $200,000. While this price is still high, it’s a step toward making space travel as affordable and safe as commercial air travel. As more companies compete to offer the cheapest space rides, prices could drop even further. If rockets can be reused multiple times, like airplanes, space tourism could become more accessible to the public.
However, getting to space is only part of the challenge. Living in space is still very expensive. The International Space Station costs NASA about $4 billion each year to operate. Recently, NASA opened the ISS to paying customers, but it’s still mainly for the wealthy. Staying on the ISS costs around $35,000 per night, including food, air, power, and Wi-Fi. For space tourism to become a reality, the cost of building and maintaining space habitats needs to decrease significantly.
Bigelow Aerospace, a space technology startup, is working on inflatable space station modules. These modules can be compactly packed into a rocket and then expanded in space. They could serve as the foundation for future space hotels. The ISS requires a large team to keep it running, but Bigelow Aerospace aims to simplify their modules’ operations and reduce costs. Since these modules are cheaper to make and launch, they could lower the cost of living in space.
While space tourism might seem like a distant dream, advancements in reusable rockets and space modules could soon make it a reality. The future of space exploration is bright, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be among the first tourists to experience the wonders of space!
Imagine you are a space tourism company CEO. Create a brochure for a space tour package. Include details like the spacecraft, activities during the trip, and the cost. Use your creativity to make it appealing to potential customers.
Pair up with a classmate. One of you will be a space tourist who has just returned from a trip, and the other will be a journalist. Conduct an interview discussing the experiences, challenges, and highlights of the journey.
Using materials like cardboard, plastic bottles, and other recyclables, build a model of a spacecraft designed for space tourism. Consider features like passenger seating, windows, and safety measures. Present your model to the class.
Divide into two groups. One group will argue in favor of space tourism, highlighting its benefits and potential. The other group will discuss the challenges and drawbacks. Use facts from the article to support your arguments.
Research current innovations in space habitats, such as inflatable modules. Create a presentation or poster explaining how these innovations could make living in space more affordable and accessible. Share your findings with the class.
On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to venture into space. On that day, he saw the world in a way that no one had ever seen before. Since then, just 560 people have traveled to space, most of whom were trained astronauts who spent years preparing for their flights. But when will the rest of us get a chance to visit space? And what will we do when we get there? In this video, we’re going to explore the future of space tourism. We’ll also look at private astronauts who have paid to go into space and how reusable rockets could help kickstart the space tourism industry.
Since the beginning of spaceflight, only a handful of people have paid to go to space. In 2001, American entrepreneur Dennis Tito paid $20 million for an 8-day trip to the International Space Station. At the time, NASA thought it was inappropriate for tourists to go to space, so they refused to train him. Instead, he partnered with the Russians and took a ride on the Soyuz mission TM32 along with two cosmonauts. He recalls the spectacular moment when he looked out of his window for the first time and saw the curvature of the Earth against the darkness of space. Dennis spent a total of 8 days on the ISS, where he performed various experiments and admired the incredible view of Earth.
So far, the number of paying visitors to space has been very low, but that could change in the near future. With multiple private space companies developing reusable spacecraft, the cost of spaceflight is starting to lower dramatically. Blue Origin is developing their ‘New Shepard’ spacecraft specifically for tourism flights into space. This capsule has 6 seats with the largest windows ever seen in a spacecraft. During these flights, the rocket will accelerate up to 100 km in altitude before cutting off the engine and releasing the capsule. At this point, the capsule is essentially in free fall but still traveling upwards to its highest point. Passengers inside the capsule will be able to leave their seats and experience the effects of weightlessness. A few minutes later, the passengers will return to their seats before the capsule enters the atmosphere and the effects of weightlessness disappear.
Although these flights will be extremely short, the reusability of this rocket could give customers a chance to experience the wonders of space for a price as low as $200,000. While this will still only be accessible to the wealthy, it’s a step in the right direction if spaceflight is to ever achieve the price and safety standards of commercial air travel. As the industry grows and companies compete to develop the cheapest ride into space, these prices could fall even more. If each space vehicle can be reused multiple times before needing serious refurbishment, the customer will only need to cover the cost of crew and fuel. An airplane can fly multiple times per day and conduct tens of thousands of flights over its lifetime. If a rocket can reach even a fraction of those numbers, space tourism could be opened up to a wider public.
However, developing a cheap ride into space is only part of the challenge. The cost of actually living in space remains an incredibly expensive luxury. Running the International Space Station costs NASA around $4 billion each year. After years of avoiding commercialization, NASA recently opened up the ISS to paying customers. But with the extremely high running costs, the ISS is still primarily a destination for the wealthy. To have food and air during your stay on the ISS, it will cost approximately $22,500 per day. Once everything else, like power and Wi-Fi, is included, a one-night stay onboard the ISS will cost at least $35,000. For space tourism to become a reality, the cost of building and operating a habitat in space will need to be drastically reduced.
Space technology startup Bigelow Aerospace is developing large inflatable space station modules. These modules can be packed into a rocket’s payload bay and inflated into a much larger size when in space. The idea is that large expandable modules like these could serve as the perfect foundation for space hotels. Currently, the ISS requires an enormous team of people working around the clock just to keep the station running. Bigelow Aerospace hopes to simplify the operation of their modules and reduce running costs. Since they are easier to manufacture and cheaper to launch than traditional space station modules, they could lower the cost of living in space altogether.
So, while the idea of space tourism may seem like a distant fantasy, the incredible advancements in reusable rockets and space modules could soon open the door to a new era of exploration. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are found. – Example sentence: Scientists study space to understand the origins of the universe and the potential for life on other planets.
Tourism – The practice of traveling for pleasure, which in the context of space, refers to non-professional astronauts visiting outer space. – Example sentence: Space tourism is becoming more popular as private companies develop technology to send civilians into orbit.
Rockets – Vehicles or devices propelled by the expulsion of gases, used to transport spacecraft and satellites into space. – Example sentence: Rockets must overcome Earth’s gravity to deliver satellites into orbit.
Astronauts – Trained individuals who travel into space to conduct research and experiments. – Example sentence: Astronauts aboard the International Space Station conduct experiments to learn more about living in microgravity.
Travel – The act of moving from one place to another, which in the context of space, refers to journeys beyond Earth’s atmosphere. – Example sentence: Space travel requires advanced technology and careful planning to ensure the safety of the crew.
Habitat – A place where organisms live, which in space refers to structures that support human life in the harsh environment of space. – Example sentence: The space station serves as a habitat for astronauts, providing them with air, food, and shelter.
Weightlessness – The condition experienced in free-fall where the effects of gravity are not felt, often occurring in space. – Example sentence: Astronauts experience weightlessness in space, allowing them to float and move freely inside the spacecraft.
Altitude – The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level, important in determining the layers of Earth’s atmosphere a spacecraft must pass through. – Example sentence: As a rocket climbs to higher altitudes, it passes through different layers of the atmosphere before reaching space.
Experiments – Scientific tests conducted to discover or demonstrate something, often performed by astronauts in space to study the effects of microgravity. – Example sentence: Experiments conducted in space help scientists understand how living organisms adapt to microgravity.
Exploration – The act of traveling through an unfamiliar area to learn about it, often referring to the investigation of outer space. – Example sentence: Space exploration has led to the discovery of new planets and the potential for life beyond Earth.
