THE FANTASY of reaching space seems closer than ever before for the average person. Space travel used to be the exclusive preserve of astronauts, but the turn of the millennium marked the encroachment of civilians with help from private companies[1]. In the decades that followed, entrepreneurs embarked on new and risky ventures to commercialize space and make it accessible to more people. Their achievements are celebrated by many, but not everyone is convinced of their worthwhileness.

The origins of space tourism

   The 20th century witnessed the unfolding of one of the fiercest competitions between the two world superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The first space race started in 1955[2] and showcased each country’s ingenuity and technological prowess. Both countries’ efforts to outmatch one another opened the gateway to space travel not only to astronauts but to civilians as well.

   April 28, 2001, 31 years after Armstrong Neil landed on the Moon, Tito Dennis, an American millionaire, became the first civilian to enter space[3], making the businessman the first “space tourist.” Tito first received intense training, and then took a $20 million flight to the International Space Station (ISS)[4]. The flight, conducted by Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, was met with criticism from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The agency deemed it inappropriate to send a tourist to space because a global legal framework for sending civilians to space had yet to be developed.

   Over the course of the next eight years, only six more civilians traveled to ISS on Soyuz, as the Russian space shuttle was the only vehicle available to transport people to space. The U.S. space program was put to halt after the fatal accident on Columbia which killed its seven-member crew in 2003[5]. Following the incident, NASA banned all civilian space flights, but the world would get to see space tourism re-emerge once again.

The new space race

   Now, the space race of the modern era has transformed into a rivalry between the three most prominent entrepreneurs of the 21st century. On July 11, 2021, Branson Richard, founder of Virgin Galactic, boarded the SpaceShipTwo of his spaceflight company alongside five other crew members[6]. The team successfully landed back on Earth after reaching the aimed altitude of 80 km, livestreaming the entire process. The company promised to begin its commercial service in early 2022, but the launch was pushed back to focus on improving technology[7]. The original price of a single suborbital flight was $200,000, later increasing to $250,000[8]. According to a report by MarketWatch, the price was yet again raised to $450,000 during the re-opening ticket sale, indicating the demand for the thrilling experience had risen after the company’s successful spaceflight.

   Bezos Jeff, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, followed suit and entered outer space on July 20, 2021[9]. Blue Origin’s New Shepard peaked at just above 100 km, surpassing Branson and possibly offering a more attractive space travel experience with a higher altitude. The ticket price has yet to be disclosed, but it has been reported that one customer bid $28 million in auction for an opportunity to fly with Bezos himself[10].

   Musk Elon, CEO of Tesla, has yet to fly to space himself, but his aerospace company SpaceX has already outstripped both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin. Unlike the other two companies, SpaceX charged ahead to win as many government contracts as possible rather than gradually improving technology to meet long-term objectives. Because of this, SpaceX was chosen by NASA as its only spacecraft builder that would send people to the Moon by 2024 on a $2.9 billion budget, beating Blue Origin[11]. The business magnate also plans to launch an all-civilian orbital flight in September of this year[12]. His main goal, however, is to eventually build a colony on Mars[13].

   Aside from leaving their mark on history, these entrepreneurs will also make a huge profit as the industry evolves. However, even if companies can expect massive returns by exploiting newly found resources in the solar system, the future of the industry mainly depends on the regulations of world governments. Despite large ambitions, unless national authorities give private firms the green light to launch their spacecrafts—their hands are tied.

Prospective advantages

   Commercialization of space comes with several benefits, including saving taxpayers’ money. Government funding for space exploration is often cut to allocate more money for other national objectives. For instance, the Apollo mission was only possible because the United States wanted to overtake the Soviet Union to become the first nation to land on the Moon. Once the space race ended, however, NASA’s funding was cut from over 4% of the total federal budget in 1965 to around 1% in the 1970s[14]. Since then, the funding has been insufficient for NASA to fulfill all its desired projects. Private companies, on the contrary, have more freedom in developing their vehicles since their budget comes from personal investments. By developing and using reusable technology, the companies can give the government more affordable access to space. In return, the government can hand out development contracts to companies that offer a better deal[15]. In order to spur competitiveness in the space market, the government can grant loans and tax exemptions to companies that perform particularly well. In an interview with The Yonsei Annals, Bock Gene (Prof., UIC, Science, Tech. & Policy, Yonsei Univ.) said that private companies can also lower the production cost when cooperating with government agencies. He explained that “the technology transferred from the government space agency to the private company has the effect of reducing the initial research and development cost of the private company to zero.”

   As the demand for space travel grows, the industry could start creating more jobs and boost the world economy, much like regular tourism. By 2010, around 50 million people worked in businesses related to commercial air travel[16]. Bock believes that the space tourism industry has the same potential. “When airplanes were first operated, the aviation industry was small compared to transportation by ships, railroads, and automobiles, but now the aviation industry has established itself as one of the major industries,” Bock told the Annals. Moreover, Business Wire reported that space tourism could grow to $1.7 billion by 2027, with suborbital tourism projected to make up $1.5 billion of the total market.

   The commercialization of space will also have long-term benefits for humans as a species. The commercialization of space may be the precursor to the eventual colonization of the solar system. Bezos admitted that the commercialization of space serves more as a stepping stone for the creation of settlements beyond Earth[17]. Bezos presented his new plan to send people to the Moon at an event in Washington[18], stating that the human population is now “big enough to hurt [the Earth],” and that we must start looking for resources on other planets. "We must have a future for our grandchildren and their grandchildren of dynamism—we cannot let them fall prey to stasis and rationing," Bezos stressed.

Daunting drawbacks

   The main criticism concerning space tourism is its environmental impact. Although there is little information about the exact carbon footprint of the new spaceflights, experts warn that the growing popularity of commercial space travel could be extremely harmful to our planet. According to Marais Eloise (Associate Prof., Dept. of Geography, University College London), the environmental impact of the rocket launch depends on the type of fuel used, varying from company to company. Still, she insists that no matter the type, all of them can emit damaging greenhouse gases. Unlike the emissions of airplanes, rocket greenhouse emissions are released into the upper atmosphere, remaining in the atmosphere for longer. Even though the number of commercial flights to space is significantly lower than the number of commercial jet flights, the former is potentially more dangerous. One to three tons of carbon dioxide is emitted per person on an air flight, while the number for the spaceflight rises to 200 or 300 tons per person[19]. The effect could become more detrimental as the industry grows.

   Many also question how accessible space tourism will be, as the sky-high prices for a spaceflight ticket seem exclusive to the wealthy. The current price of spaceflight tickets is hardly within the financial reach of an average person. However, some think that prices will decrease as technology improves. According to Bock, “as in any other industries, we expect to ‘produce more with less’ and ‘process innovation.’ Appropriate competition will drive down prices.” Indeed, air travel was also once regarded as a luxury experience. For example, the price for an airplane ticket from Los Angeles to Boston cost between $4,000 and $5,000 in 1941[20]. In 2015, the price was around $500.

   Musk once jokingly said the following in regard to developing space travel: “A bunch of people will probably die in the beginning[21].” His words, however, were more than just a dark joke. Commercial space flight poses very dangerous challenges. In 2007, Virgin Galactic’s rocket engine explosion killed three employees. In 2014, the company’s VSS Enterprise broke down, which resulted in the death of one pilot and injuries for another[22]. The problem primarily comes from a lack of protocol and safety regulations. According to Politico, no spacecraft is officially “certified as safe,” so the company in charge of the flight is unlikely to bear any legal repercussions in the case of an accident. The reason for this is that all passengers are required to sign a consent form before being allowed to fly a spacecraft. Aside from that, it is also important to consider the difference between passengers. Astronauts are aware of all hazards and go through a series of medical evaluations and rigorous training before being permitted to travel to space. Civilians, on the other hand, while also required to complete a similar training, may not understand the risks as well as astronauts do. Since there is no medical standard for civilians eligible to fly to space[23], those with underlying health conditions may forgo precautions altogether.

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   “Philosophically, the fundamental cause of human evolution lies in our endless curiosity and tireless challenging spirit,” Bock said. While space tourism continues to spark debate, the recent breakthroughs in the growing industry serve to prove that humanity has limitless possibilities. How we as a species decide to manage these possibilities and fulfill our potential remains to be seen.

[1] Space Tourism Guide

[2] Britannica

[3] BBC

[4] SpaceRef

[5] Space Tourism Guide

[6] CNN

[7] SpaceNews

[8] The New York Times

[9] BBC

[10] Reuters

[11] Forbes

[12] Time

[13] BBC

[14] The Space Report

[15] Phelan United States Centre

[16] Journal of the British Interplanetary Society

[17] The Seattle Times

[18] Business Insider

[19] The Guardian

[20] Travel + Leisure

[21] The Independent

[22] The Guardian

[23] Scientific American