MATTHEW SHEEHAN
3 min readJun 25, 2024

Space Tourism: A Promising Frontier with New Developments and Challenges

Since the beginning of space development, space travel and exploration have been restricted, and only a few governments and astronauts have been able to see outer Space. However, with the new developments in space tourism using private players, options are now available. The number of firms such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic that are building vehicles for space tourists to take them to the outer limits of Space is on the rise. With the constant development of rocket technology, the possibility of individual orbital and even lunar space travel could be a reality in the next ten years.

However, there are many opportunities related to the birth of this new field. Paid trips into Space for those daring souls willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars will offer the thrills of seeing the Earth from a spacecraft and weightlessness. It also has the potential to increase the availability of Space for scientists and researchers by providing an efficient and cheap means of transportation. In the future, space hotels and lunar bases could be fashioned to support space vacations of more extended periods. Space tourism could positively impact life back on Earth through technology spin-offs in fields such as material sciences and efficient energy production.

However, many potential problems and threats are associated with the initial stages of space tourism. Some essential requirements include safety, which is always a concern for space travel since it is dangerous for crew and passengers. It is worth recalling that the aim is to avoid risks. However, incidents such as the SpaceShipTwo's recent crash show the steep learning curve that companies have to contend with in this young industry. Other challenges are the vast expenses and physical burden for the human body, which will still be obstacles to orbital tourism in the near future. Another aspect that must be taken into consideration is the legal and regulatory concern that pertains to the safety of passengers, crew qualifications, and liability release in light of the fact that space travel is inherently dangerous and commercially available.

The future for space tourism seems bright and is likely to come closer to the status of a credible industry that might one day take the next step in extending Space to more people. However, much technical and regulatory work on the cost, safety, and accessibility of the required technologies will limit enthusiasm in such an early stage. However, the increasing count of space tourism firms and the rapidly advancing field of private spaceflight give hope for the longer term. As a futuristic industry, it has the potential to popularize space and open doors that were not even imagined ten years ago.

Thank you for reading….