Space Tourism is the final frontier for humans. After the ability to commercially travel in the visible 3 mediums of ground, water and air, humans set sights on the 4th and final medium of space. With the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 and then the first astronaut, Yuri Gagarin being launched into orbit in 1961, the late 20th century became the turning point in the history of spaceflight.
Space Tourism is one of the most ambitious sectors of manned space-flight. Last week, the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) anounced that they will carry 2 space tourists to the ISS (International Space Station) in collaboration with Space Adventures. From the Russian Sector, along with an experienced cosmonaut, one of these tourists will carry out a guided , once in a lifetime, spacewalk.This is one of the most exciting innovations and additions to Space Tourism.
The 3 types of Space Tourism are :
Orbital Space Tourism
Sub Orbital Tourism
Lunar Tourism
Orbital Space Tourism has only been done by the Russian Space Agency, with them taking 7 Tourists to space between 2001 and 2009, a venture organised by Space Adventures. With the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the Soyuz capsule became the only medium for transport to the ISS, thus pausing Space Tourism.
In 2017, Elon Musk owned company 'SpaceX', introduced plans to fly 2 artists to the moon (free-return trajectory) , which would become the first case of Lunar Tourism.They have also signed a deal , with start up 'axiom', for whom they will fly 3 private astronauts in 2021, along with an experienced commander. Just last month, Richard Branson owned company, Virgin Galactic signed a deal with NASA to train people as astronauts for trips as tourists to the ISS. For this, they will create a "private orbital astronaut readiness program".
Roscosmos will not only carry tourists to space in 2023 for spacewalks but also as regular tourists (notice the irony of saying 'regular tourists') to the ISS in 2021 , in a joint venture with the U.S based firm, space adventures.
This exciting new commercial viewpoint of the final frontier has become a highlight in the past decade as the commercial spaceflight becomes the new dominant power in the 4th arena. Space tourism, although not affordable for the regular human, could become a regularity for the youngest generation present today. This exciting new venture ,if a success will be the ultimate testimony, to the fact that 'anything is possible'.
Till Next Time,
The Alpha Theory
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