Some people believe that the first moon landing was fake, NASA is a lie, the earth is flat and space travel is a hoax. It will be fascinating to see how that upholds as space tourism launches onto the scene — or will it?
On April 28th, 2001 American businessman Dennis Tito became the first-ever paying space tourist (this is not to be confused with an astronaut).
After weeks of rigorous training, he boarded a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome and launched off.
Tito spent eight days at the International Space Station, fulfilling a widely held dream. In total, he paid $20 million for the trip of a lifetime.
Reaching for the stars
Since then, technological advancements and increasing private investment have spurred more companies to pursue mainstream space travel.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are among the most well-known.
In 2021, Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and three other employees flew on VSS Unity, marking the first time a spaceflight company founder went to space in their own vessel.
The common denominator across the companies is competitive billionaire CEOs — people who have the resources and wealthy connections to possibly sustain a space expedition business.
Let’s take a closer look at the arguments for and against commercial space tourism.
Space Tourism will take off
1. Accelerating technological advancement
The saying “it’s not rocket science” is popular because there is a lot of weight to it.
Rocket science and space science is a cornerstone of understanding the universe and spearheading technological advancements.
Federal and private space companies are developing reusable rockets and trying to find ways to reduce costs without compromising safety while improving the tech.
Human curiosity is one of the greatest powers of all time — as is money. Those factors combined could cause space tourism truly take off.
2. Economic growth and job creation
The recent wave of job cuts and job losses has rattled confidence in the economy. Some point to the space tourism industry as a way to generate thousands of new jobs from engineering to hospitality.
The exclusivity and allure of space tourism could also largely appeal to investors, as it already has, which can stimulate the economy in new, exciting ways.
3. Colonization
While this is a highly debated topic, some see space tourism as a stepping stone towards colonizing other planets and harvesting them for resources — especially in the face of overpopulation, pollution and resource depletion.
It sounds like the plot of a sci-fi movie but so did the concept of going to space period at one point in time.
4. Enhanced health research
Advanced space tourism could build out our current understanding of the human body.
With more people going to space, researchers would have access to a larger sample size, possibly a wider demographic of people to assess.
In particular, it could teach us the effects of microgravity on, including bone density loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular change. This knowledge could be incredibly useful for astronauts setting out on long-duration space travel.
5. The Overview Effect
The overview effect is a cognitive shift astronauts experience once seeing Earth from space. It’s characterized by feelings of awe, a sense of interconnectedness.
It can instill a profound appreciation for Earth in the context of the universe, often leading to a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility.
Making space accessible to the public could inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers — potentially encouraging a greater sense of world unity and openness to other perspectives.
Space tourism will stay grounded
1. Environmental concerns
Rocket launches generate large amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. While efforts are being made to develop sustainable fuels, frequent space tourism flights could toll the Earth’s atmosphere and climate.
Not to mention that rocket debris, or “space junk”, poses threat and is a further form of pollution. Even small amounts that make contact with a commercial aircraft flying below could cause damage and turn into a dangerous situation.
2. Expensive & exclusive
Currently, space tourism is only accessible to the ultra-wealthy, with ticket prices in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
This raises ethical concerns about whether space should be a playground for the rich while many people on Earth struggle with poverty and inequality.
Donald Trump’s presidency that favours the billionaires behind these lavish space travel companies and has eliminated thousands of jobs already is not making this trajectory look any different.
3. Safety Risks
Space travel is inherently dangerous. Even with advanced technology, there is always a risk of catastrophic failure.
From high radiation exposure to potential vehicle malfunctions, commercial space flights must ensure safety before becoming a mainstream industry.
As we mentioned before, the prospect of space travel can teach us a lot of valuable information about the human body and mental health as well — but at what cost?
4. Over-commercialization
Some argue that turning space into a tourist destination could lead to the exploitation and commercialization of what should remain a scientific and exploratory endeavour.
This further fuels the concerns about space debris, satellite congestion, and orbital pollution also arise as commercial flights increase.
The power of controlling the space tourism industry could become just another way the world’s wealthiest systemically leaves those in poverty and difficult life positions in a disadvantaged, desperate state.
5. Ethics abuse
On the threat of exploitation and abuse, expanding space tourism is rich in potential for white-collar crime, major cases conflict-of-interest and unethical medical/environmental research.
Elon Musk’s role as head of DOGE has already compromised the livelihood and well-being of thousands. The Trump Administration’s display of control, erasure of DEI, billionaire superiority and “short-term pain for long-term economic gain” have made many label Trump as a dictator.
Of course, the US is not the only power in space travel. Other countries, such as Russia, which is clearly under an authoritarian dictatorship, are in the space race.
To infinity & beyond?
While we can’t predict the future, many are skeptical that integrity and the goal of expanding human progress underpins the point of space tourism.
What do you think? Is commercial space travel a force for improving society or is it a misstep in priorities? Let us know in the comments below.
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