Space Tourism: Bridging Science Fiction With Scientific Reality

Space tourism is a fancy idea many of us have harboured for years, probably due to our love for popular Hollywood film franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek. Being able to explore the far reaches of the universe, a concept once associated with the theatrical depictions of science fiction is becoming an exciting reality in the 21st century.

This article explores the developments, current landscape, and realistic prospects of space tourism today.

What Is Space Tourism?

Like other forms of tourism, Space tourism refers to the commercial activity entailing the movement of people to places outside their usual environment – in this case, Earth to space. Previously, space travel was reserved only for trained astronauts and scientists looking to explore the universe. However, more recently, a fascinating new chapter is unfolding where private individuals can make their extraterrestrial desires a reality.

Technological advancements and modern innovations are making it possible for cosmic travel, and we have pioneering space companies to thank for this. Innovators like Virgin Atlantic, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Orbital ATK, and OneWeb, are just some of the 1000+ commercial space companies that have grown over the past two decades. This burgeoning private sector, more than just wanting to overcome new challenges, is focused more on the recreational aspects of space exploration.

Commercial Space Travel

Space exploration used to be about government-backed initiatives focused on scientific research and national security. The two fatal space shuttle accidents of 1986 and 2003 changed all that and were responsible for a pull-back on centralised government control of space exploration in the US. In 2004, a presidential commission on US space exploration policy concluded that NASA must be limited to areas where only the government can facilitate space exploration initiatives.

A direct consequence of these talking points led to the gradual shutdown of the shuttle program, which eventually got cancelled in 2011. To encourage privatisation, the United States Congress shifted funding by creating incentives and innovative policies like the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services programme.

SpaceX – Interplanetary Innovations

Founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX was originally tasked with reducing space transportation costs and revolutionising the aerospace industry. A 2014 data from NASA showed that the company delivered 1 kg of cargo to the ISS at about a third of the price it would have spent using the space shuttle.

However, SpaceX has bigger aspirations and is in the process of developing the Starship, a Crewed Interplanetary Transport System for Mars. The company has also been involved in recreational space tourism initiatives like the Inspiration4 in 2021, where four people spent three days in a SpaceX vehicle circling the Earth.

Currently, there have been 317 total launches, 281 total landings, and 251 total re-flights by SpaceX shuttles since its inception. Below is a breakdown of some of its missions:

• May 2012 – The SpaceX Dragon became the first private spacecraft in history to visit the ISS.
• March 2019 – Dragon became the first American spacecraft to dock autonomously with the ISS.
• May 2020 – SpaceX returns human spaceflight to the United States.

Voyager Station – Space Hotel

The idea of being in a hotel in space already creates a certain fascination in the minds of travellers and tourism lovers. California-based startup, Orbital Assembly Corporation is intent on making this a reality for those with a taste for space adventures. The Voyager Station, the first space hotel in low Earth orbit, is a groundbreaking venture representing a leap in space tourism.

With the thoughts of such an exotic hotel destination in mind, gambling enthusiasts are seeing an opportunity for investment. Imagine a physical casino venue within the Voyager Station, presenting an opportunity for gamblers to do more than play online pokies no deposit free spins at online casinos back on Earth. With the construction of the space hotel set to begin in 2025 and a planned opening in 2027, such exotic gambling aspirations are about to become a reality.

Blue Origin – Commercial Space Station

American aerospace manufacturer and space technology company Blue Origin was founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000. Although not much was known of the company in its early years, its fully reusable suborbital launch vehicle, the New Shepard, developed for space tourism, has gained worldwide attention.

More recently, Blue Origin and its partners won a USD130 million award to jump-start the design of the Orbital Reef commercial space station. The station is envisioned to be an expandable business park located in space. Partners, Boeing and Sierra will be using their respective Starliner and Dream Chaser to transport passengers to and from the business park for tourism.

Global Space Tourism Market

The space tourism industry is constantly innovating and evolving, with key players continuously coming up with various initiatives. NASA has partnered with many private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin to bring about more sustainability in space explorations. Among the different segments of space tourism, suborbital reusable vehicles hold the largest portion of the suborbital space tourism market.

Below is a breakdown of the overall market size and forecast of space tourism by the type of flight vehicles in use.

Space Tourism – Opportunities for Luxury Gambling

There are high costs associated with space travel, both in development and flight fees for private individuals. With ticket prices for a single seat on a suborbital flight currently ranging from USD$200,000 to USD$300,000, the high-end market opportunities for this elite-type recreation are obvious. The development of exclusive, luxury gambling experiences for space tourists is therefore a good way to add to the entertainment value of space travel.

Such experiences can include the incorporation of VIP casino tournaments and high-stakes gambling for those who can afford it. In all of this, it is essential to also put into perspective the issues of problem gambling and how easy it is to become addicted to this exotic gaming experience.

These are issues that must not be taken lightly when considering the gambling opportunities space tourism can create for the iGaming industry. The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) remains dedicated to reducing gambling risks through innovation, awareness and improved safeguards.

Future of Space Tourism

Space exploration has been around for many decades, and countries like the US and Russia have made impressive advancements in this regard, to the benefit of mankind. In the space tourism market, however, there are exciting prospects for more innovations in commercial space travel and the development of orbital habitats. Interest in space tourism is gaining more popularity because it offers a new and unique experience that can’t be found anywhere on Earth.

The industry is positioned for even more expansion as more companies are finding innovative ways to offer a broader range of experiences for prospective space tourists. Apart from older and more established pioneers in the sector, newer companies are currently becoming key players in their unique ways. This kind of competitive landscape is ultimately good for the growth of the industry and can drive down the costs of space travel over time.

Listed below are some of the innovative companies contributing to the advancement of space tourism in recent years:

• Space Adventure
• Zero-G
• Space Perspective
• Axiom
• NanoRacks
• Zero 2 Infinity
• World View

Conclusion

There are growing concerns in some spheres that the space race could create greater potential for accidents as more debris is left in orbit. This may very well become a major risk factor in space tourism. Optimists, however, would argue that this is a minor setback, considering that the potential profits from space tourism could more than pay up for the clean-up of debris. There’s also the expectation that stricter and better regulations will be in place to limit the attendant risks that may follow.