Space Tourism
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Science and Technology
Source: IE
Context: Pop star Katy Perry and an all-female crew flew to space via Blue Origin, reigniting debates on space tourism’s costs and environmental impact.
What is Space Tourism?
Space tourism involves recreational, leisure, or business travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere, offered by private companies like Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX. Unlike government-led space missions, it caters to civilians, albeit at exorbitant costs.
Types of Space Tourism
• Sub-Orbital Tourism – Brief flights crossing the Kármán line (100 km altitude), offering minutes of weightlessness.
E.g. Blue Origin’s New Shepard (Katy Perry’s flight lasted 11 minutes).
• Orbital Tourism – Extended stays in space, often docking with the ISS or private space stations.
E.g. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon missions for multi-day orbital trips.
• Lunar Tourism – Proposed future missions circling or landing on the Moon.
E.g. SpaceX’s DearMoon project (planned for 2025).
Concerns Surrounding Space Tourism
• Exorbitant Costs – Tickets range from $450,000 (Virgin Galactic) to millions (SpaceX), making it a billionaire’s hobby.
E.g. Only 1,000+ people have booked space flights despite global wealth inequality.
• Environmental Damage – Rocket emissions deplete ozone and contribute to climate change.
E.g. A single Blue Origin launch emits 300+ tons of CO₂ (equal to 75 cars/year).
• Lack of Scientific Value – Most missions offer no breakthroughs compared to NASA/ISRO research.
E.g. ISS experiments yield far more data than tourist flights.
• Safety Risks – Private companies face higher accident risks than government agencies.
E.g. 2022 Virgin Galactic crash delayed tourism launches for years.
• Ethical Questions – Resources spent on tourism could fund climate action or poverty alleviation.
E.g. $1.3 billion industry could instead finance renewable energy projects.
Way Ahead:
• Regulate Emissions– Enforce carbon-neutral rocket fuels and ozone-friendly propulsion.
E.g. ESA’s Prometheus engine reduces emissions by 90%.
• Democratize Access – Subsidize research missions or lottery-based affordable seats.
E.g. NASA’s civilian astronaut program selects non-billionaires.
• Boost Scientific Payloads – Mandate experiments on tourist flights for NASA/ISRO collaboration.
E.g. Axiom Space partners with researchers for ISS missions.
• Tax Luxury Flights – Redirect revenue to climate funds or space sustainability initiatives.
E.g. EUs proposed “Space Tax” on private launches.
• Promote Earth-First Policies – Prioritize satellite-based climate monitoring over joyrides.
E.g. ISRO’s EOS-6 monitors oceans, aiding climate studies.
Conclusion:
Space tourism symbolizes human ambition but risks exacerbating inequality and ecological harm. A regulated, science-driven approach can balance innovation with planetary responsibility. The future of space must be inclusive, sustainable, and purposeful.
• What is the main task of India’s third moon mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the “Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (UPSC-2023)