Space tourism is the recent phenomenon of tourists paying for flights into space.
As of 2009, orbital space tourism opportunities are limited and expensive, with only the
Russian Space Agency providing transport. The price for a flight brokered by Space Adventures
to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft is US$20–35 million.
The space tourists usually sign contracts with third parties to conduct certain research
while in orbit. This helps to minimize their own expenses.
Infrastructure for a suborbital space tourism industry is being developed through
the construction of spaceports in numerous locations, including California, Oklahoma,
New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, Alaska, Wisconsin, Esrange in Sweden as well as the United
Arab Emirates. Some use the term "personal spaceflight" as in the case of the Personal
Spaceflight Federation.
A number of startup companies have sprung up in recent years, hoping to create a space
tourism industry. For a list of such companies, and the spacecraft they are currently building,
see list of space tourism companies.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Early dreams
After early successes in space, much of the public saw intensive space exploration as inevitable.
Those aspirations are remembered in science fiction such as Arthur C. Clarke's A Fall of
Moondust and also 2001: A Space Odyssey, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator,
Joanna Russ's 1968 novel Picnic on Paradise, and Larry Niven's Known Space stories.
Lucian in 2 A.D. in his book True History examines the idea of a crew of men whose ship
travels to the Moon during a storm. Jules Verne also took up the theme of lunar visits in
his books, From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon. Robert A. Heinlein’s short story
The Menace from Earth, published in 1957, was one of the first to incorporate elements of a
developed space tourism industry within its framework. During the 1960s and 1970s,
it was common belief that space hotels would be launched by 2000. Many futurologists
around the middle of the 20th century speculated that the average family of the early 21st
century would be able to enjoy a holiday on the Moon. In the 1960s, Pan Am established a
waiting list for future flights to the moon, issuing free "First Moon Flights Club"
membership cards to those who requested them.
Those aspirations are remembered in science fiction such as Arthur C. Clarke's A Fall of
Moondust and also 2001: A Space Odyssey, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator,
Joanna Russ's 1968 novel Picnic on Paradise, and Larry Niven's Known Space stories.
Lucian in 2 A.D. in his book True History examines the idea of a crew of men whose ship
travels to the Moon during a storm. Jules Verne also took up the theme of lunar visits in
his books, From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon. Robert A. Heinlein’s short story
The Menace from Earth, published in 1957, was one of the first to incorporate elements of a
developed space tourism industry within its framework. During the 1960s and 1970s,
it was common belief that space hotels would be launched by 2000. Many futurologists
around the middle of the 20th century speculated that the average family of the early 21st
century would be able to enjoy a holiday on the Moon. In the 1960s, Pan Am established a
waiting list for future flights to the moon, issuing free "First Moon Flights Club"
membership cards to those who requested them.
Orbital space tourism
At the end of the 1990s, MirCorp, a private venture by then in charge of the space station,
began seeking potential space tourists to visit Mir in order to offset some of its maintenance
costs. Dennis Tito, an American businessman and former JPL scientist, became their first
candidate. When the decision to de-orbit Mir was made, Tito managed to switch his trip to
the International Space Station through a deal between MirCorp and U.S.-based Space Adventures,
Ltd., despite strong opposition from senior figures at NASA. Space Adventures remains the
only company to have sent paying passengers to space.
In conjunction with the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation and Rocket and
Space Corporation (Energia), Space Adventures facilitated the flights for all of the
world's first private space explorers. The first three participants paid in excess of
$20 million (USD) each for their 10-day visit to the ISS.
On April 28, 2001, Dennis Tito became the first "fee-paying" space tourist when he visited
the International Space Station (ISS) for seven days. He was followed in 2002 by South African
After the Columbia disaster, space tourism on the Russian Soyuz program was temporarily
put on hold, because Soyuz vehicles became the only available transport to the ISS.
However, in 2006, space tourism was resumed. On September 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari,
an Iranian American (Soyuz TMA-9), became the fourth space tourist
(she prefers "private space explorer"). On April 7, 2007, Charles Simonyi,
an American billionaire of Hungarian descent, joined their ranks (Soyuz TMA-10).
In 2003, NASA and the Russian Space Agency agreed to use the term 'Spaceflight Participant'
to distinguish those space travelers from astronauts on missions coordinated by those two agencies.
Tito, Shuttleworth, Olsen, Ansari, and Simonyi were designated as such during their
respective space flights. NASA also lists Christa McAuliffe as a "Space Flight Participant"
(although she did not pay a fee), apparently due to her non-technical duties aboard
the STS-51-L flight.
The end of the Space Race, however, signified by the Moon landing, decreased the emphasis
placed on space exploration by national governments and therefore led to decreased demands
for public funding of manned space flights.
began seeking potential space tourists to visit Mir in order to offset some of its maintenance
costs. Dennis Tito, an American businessman and former JPL scientist, became their first
candidate. When the decision to de-orbit Mir was made, Tito managed to switch his trip to
the International Space Station through a deal between MirCorp and U.S.-based Space Adventures,
Ltd., despite strong opposition from senior figures at NASA. Space Adventures remains the
only company to have sent paying passengers to space.
In conjunction with the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation and Rocket and
Space Corporation (Energia), Space Adventures facilitated the flights for all of the
world's first private space explorers. The first three participants paid in excess of
$20 million (USD) each for their 10-day visit to the ISS.
On April 28, 2001, Dennis Tito became the first "fee-paying" space tourist when he visited
the International Space Station (ISS) for seven days. He was followed in 2002 by South African
After the Columbia disaster, space tourism on the Russian Soyuz program was temporarily
put on hold, because Soyuz vehicles became the only available transport to the ISS.
However, in 2006, space tourism was resumed. On September 18, 2006, Anousheh Ansari,
an Iranian American (Soyuz TMA-9), became the fourth space tourist
(she prefers "private space explorer"). On April 7, 2007, Charles Simonyi,
an American billionaire of Hungarian descent, joined their ranks (Soyuz TMA-10).
In 2003, NASA and the Russian Space Agency agreed to use the term 'Spaceflight Participant'
to distinguish those space travelers from astronauts on missions coordinated by those two agencies.
Tito, Shuttleworth, Olsen, Ansari, and Simonyi were designated as such during their
respective space flights. NASA also lists Christa McAuliffe as a "Space Flight Participant"
(although she did not pay a fee), apparently due to her non-technical duties aboard
the STS-51-L flight.
The end of the Space Race, however, signified by the Moon landing, decreased the emphasis
placed on space exploration by national governments and therefore led to decreased demands
for public funding of manned space flights.
Suborbital flights
More affordable suborbital space tourism is viewed as a money-making proposition by several
other companies, including Space Adventures, Virgin Galactic, Starchaser, Blue Origin,
Armadillo Aerospace, XCOR Aerospace, Rocketplane Limited, the European "Project Enterprise",
and others. Most are proposing vehicles that make suborbital flights peaking at an
altitude of 100-160 kilometres. Passengers would experience three to six minutes of
weightlessness, a view of a twinkle-free starfield, and a vista of the curved Earth below.
Projected costs are expected to be about $200,000 per passenger.
As of November 2007 Virgin Galactic had pre-sold nearly 200 seats for their suborbital
space tourism flights, according to the company's president.
other companies, including Space Adventures, Virgin Galactic, Starchaser, Blue Origin,
Armadillo Aerospace, XCOR Aerospace, Rocketplane Limited, the European "Project Enterprise",
and others. Most are proposing vehicles that make suborbital flights peaking at an
altitude of 100-160 kilometres. Passengers would experience three to six minutes of
weightlessness, a view of a twinkle-free starfield, and a vista of the curved Earth below.
Projected costs are expected to be about $200,000 per passenger.
As of November 2007 Virgin Galactic had pre-sold nearly 200 seats for their suborbital
space tourism flights, according to the company's president.
Project Enterprise
Project Enterprise was launched by the German TALIS Institute in 2004 and is the first project
of its kind in Europe. The goal is to develop a rocket-propelled spaceplane by 2011 that
will carry one pilot and up to five passengers into suborbital space. The plane will launch
from the ground using rockets, and will return in an unpowered flight like Virgin Galactic's
SpaceShipTwo. The prototypes and finished spaceplane will be launched from an airport near
Cochstedt (Germany; Saxony-Anhalt).
Since 2004, the TALIS Institute has gained many industrial partners, including XtremeAir,
who will manufacture the airframe, and Swiss Propulsion Laboratory SPL,
who will deliver the propulsion components. XtremeAir is known for their acrobatic airplanes,
and SPL has designed and tested liquid propellant rocket engines since 1998.
Current work is focusing on the first prototype, the "Black Sky": An existing acrobatic
airplane that would be fitted with a single rocket engine and a new wing. The rocket engine
is expected to deliver a thrust of 10 kN. The test program for this engine started in 2007
at SPL and is expected to fly by 2010.
of its kind in Europe. The goal is to develop a rocket-propelled spaceplane by 2011 that
will carry one pilot and up to five passengers into suborbital space. The plane will launch
from the ground using rockets, and will return in an unpowered flight like Virgin Galactic's
SpaceShipTwo. The prototypes and finished spaceplane will be launched from an airport near
Cochstedt (Germany; Saxony-Anhalt).
Since 2004, the TALIS Institute has gained many industrial partners, including XtremeAir,
who will manufacture the airframe, and Swiss Propulsion Laboratory SPL,
who will deliver the propulsion components. XtremeAir is known for their acrobatic airplanes,
and SPL has designed and tested liquid propellant rocket engines since 1998.
Current work is focusing on the first prototype, the "Black Sky": An existing acrobatic
airplane that would be fitted with a single rocket engine and a new wing. The rocket engine
is expected to deliver a thrust of 10 kN. The test program for this engine started in 2007
at SPL and is expected to fly by 2010.
Legality United States
In December 2005, the U.S. Government released a set of proposed rules for space tourism.
These included screening procedures and training for emergency situations, but not
health requirements.
Under current US law, any company proposing to launch paying passengers from American soil
on a suborbital rocket must receive a license from the Federal Aviation Administration's
Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST). The licensing process focuses on
public safety and safety of property, and the details can be found in the Code of
Federal Regulations, Title 14, Chapter III. This is in accordance with the
Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act passed by Congress in 2004.
These included screening procedures and training for emergency situations, but not
health requirements.
Under current US law, any company proposing to launch paying passengers from American soil
on a suborbital rocket must receive a license from the Federal Aviation Administration's
Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST). The licensing process focuses on
public safety and safety of property, and the details can be found in the Code of
Federal Regulations, Title 14, Chapter III. This is in accordance with the
Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act passed by Congress in 2004.
Orbital flights, space stations and space hotels
* EADS Astrium, a subsidiary of European aerospace giant EADS, announced its space tourism
project on June 13, 2007.
* SpaceX is a private space company which is developing their own rocket family called
Falcon and a capsule named Dragon, capable of sending up to 7 people to any space station,
either ISS or a possible station by Bigelow Aerospace. Falcon 1 has already undertaken
testflights and successfully completed its first commercial flight on July 14, 2009,
deploying the Malaysian RazakSAT into orbit. Falcon 9 (which will be the rocket for
the Dragon capsule) is currently in vertical position at Space Launch Complex 40 in
Cape Canaveral, and will make its first testflight in late 2009.[citation needed] An
initial prototype of the Dragon capsule is expected to be used on this test flight;
SpaceX anticipates that Dragon could be qualified for human spaceflight within 3 years
of the receipt of NASA CCDV funding.
* Space Adventures Ltd. have also announced that they are working on circumlunar
missions to the moon, with the price per passenger being $100,000,000. They are
currently developing spaceports at the United Arab Emirates (Ras al-Khaimah) and in
Singapore.
* Orbital space tourist flights are also being planned[when?] by Excalibur Almaz,
using modernized TKS space capsules.
Several plans have been proposed for using a space station as a hotel.
American motel tycoon Robert Bigelow has acquired the designs for
inflatable space habitats from the Transhab program abandoned by NASA.
His company, Bigelow Aerospace, has already launched two first inflatable
habitat modules. The first, named Genesis I, was launched 12 July 2006.
The second test module, Genesis II, was launched 28 June 2007. Both Genesis
habitats remain in orbit as of mid-2009. As of 2006, Bigelow planned to officially
launch the first commercial space station by 2012 (tagged Nautilus) which will have
330 cubic meters (almost as big as the ISS's 425 cubic meters of usable volume).
Bigelow Aerospace is currently offering the America's Space Prize, a $50 million
prize to the first US company to create a reusable spacecraft capable of carrying
passengers to a Nautilus space station.
Other companies have also expressed interest in constructing "space hotels".
For example, Excalibur Almaz plans to modernize and launch its Soviet-era Almaz
space stations, which will feature the largest windows ever on spacecraft.
Virgin's Richard Branson has expressed his hope for the
construction of a space hotel within his lifetime. He expects that beginning
a space tourism program will cost $100 million. Hilton International announced
the Space Islands Project, a plan to connect together used space shuttle fuel tanks,
each the diameter of a Boeing 747 aircraft. A separate organization, Space Island Group
announced their distinct Space Island Project (note the singular "Island"),
and plans on having 20,000 people on their "space island" by 2020, with the number
of people doubling for each decade. British Airways has expressed interest in the venture.
If and when Space Hotels develop, it would initially cost a passenger $60,000, with prices
lowering over time.
Fashion designer Eri Matsui has designed clothing, including a wedding gown,
intended to look best in weightless environments
project on June 13, 2007.
* SpaceX is a private space company which is developing their own rocket family called
Falcon and a capsule named Dragon, capable of sending up to 7 people to any space station,
either ISS or a possible station by Bigelow Aerospace. Falcon 1 has already undertaken
testflights and successfully completed its first commercial flight on July 14, 2009,
deploying the Malaysian RazakSAT into orbit. Falcon 9 (which will be the rocket for
the Dragon capsule) is currently in vertical position at Space Launch Complex 40 in
Cape Canaveral, and will make its first testflight in late 2009.[citation needed] An
initial prototype of the Dragon capsule is expected to be used on this test flight;
SpaceX anticipates that Dragon could be qualified for human spaceflight within 3 years
of the receipt of NASA CCDV funding.
* Space Adventures Ltd. have also announced that they are working on circumlunar
missions to the moon, with the price per passenger being $100,000,000. They are
currently developing spaceports at the United Arab Emirates (Ras al-Khaimah) and in
Singapore.
* Orbital space tourist flights are also being planned[when?] by Excalibur Almaz,
using modernized TKS space capsules.
Several plans have been proposed for using a space station as a hotel.
American motel tycoon Robert Bigelow has acquired the designs for
inflatable space habitats from the Transhab program abandoned by NASA.
His company, Bigelow Aerospace, has already launched two first inflatable
habitat modules. The first, named Genesis I, was launched 12 July 2006.
The second test module, Genesis II, was launched 28 June 2007. Both Genesis
habitats remain in orbit as of mid-2009. As of 2006, Bigelow planned to officially
launch the first commercial space station by 2012 (tagged Nautilus) which will have
330 cubic meters (almost as big as the ISS's 425 cubic meters of usable volume).
Bigelow Aerospace is currently offering the America's Space Prize, a $50 million
prize to the first US company to create a reusable spacecraft capable of carrying
passengers to a Nautilus space station.
Other companies have also expressed interest in constructing "space hotels".
For example, Excalibur Almaz plans to modernize and launch its Soviet-era Almaz
space stations, which will feature the largest windows ever on spacecraft.
Virgin's Richard Branson has expressed his hope for the
construction of a space hotel within his lifetime. He expects that beginning
a space tourism program will cost $100 million. Hilton International announced
the Space Islands Project, a plan to connect together used space shuttle fuel tanks,
each the diameter of a Boeing 747 aircraft. A separate organization, Space Island Group
announced their distinct Space Island Project (note the singular "Island"),
and plans on having 20,000 people on their "space island" by 2020, with the number
of people doubling for each decade. British Airways has expressed interest in the venture.
If and when Space Hotels develop, it would initially cost a passenger $60,000, with prices
lowering over time.
Fashion designer Eri Matsui has designed clothing, including a wedding gown,
intended to look best in weightless environments
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