Image of an astronaut on mars while sitting on a chair with a drink in hand and a beachball nearby

Illustration by Magictorch; shutterstock.com (space, planet surface)

Should Tourists Visit Space?

January 2, 2023

Astronauts trained by NASA or other countries' space agencies aren’t the only people blasting into space. In the past few years, companies have started sending paying customers on spaceflights. This kind of travel is known as space tourism. Experts estimate that nearly 58,000 tourists will travel to space by 2031.

This past April, a company called Axiom Space sent three wealthy businessmen to the International Space Station. Each of them paid $55 million for the 17-day trip. Former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría was the mission commander.

Many companies are excited about the future of space tourism. They’re planning to build commercial space stations, research facilities, and even space hotels. Some companies plan to open for business in space within the next five years.

But a lot of people are concerned about the effects of space tourism on the planet.

Should tourists visit space?

Courtesy of Orbital Assembly

A company called Orbital Assembly plans to open this space hotel in 2027.

Viewing Earth from space is a life-changing experience for most astronauts. But only about 600 people have ever done so. Many who have say it has given them a better appreciation for our planet. Supporters of space tourism argue that more people visiting space could lead to a greater respect for Earth.

Plus, space missions of the past have led to inventions such as solar panels and digital image sensors on cameras and phones. Some experts believe that an increase in space tourism could lead to more innovation. López-Alegría says that paying customers aren’t going to space just for a relaxing vacation.

“The private astronauts on the Ax-1 mission conducted experiments that could benefit future spaceflights,” he explains.

Besides, supporters of space tourism say, trips to space could become less expensive in the future. Airline tickets were once out of reach for most people too. But over time, they became more affordable.

Experts predict that by 2030, space tourism could be an $8 billion industry.

^{Source: Canaccord Genuity Group}

SpaceX

Launched in 2021, the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission was the first to orbit Earth without any professional astronauts.

Many experts worry that space tourism could harm the environment. Rockets release harmful chemicals and gases that could create dangerous amounts of air pollution. Karen Rosenlof is a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She believes that if space tourism really takes off, it could worsen environmental problems.

“Our concern is that by 2050, we may double the amount of rockets going up,” Rosenlof explains. “That may increase pollution.”

Some people also argue that it can be dangerous for everyday people to travel to space. There are currently no safety regulations for private spaceflights or rules about the training people should have for the trip.

Others point out that private space travel is so expensive that only the richest people can afford it. Right now, even the cheapest tickets to space cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Opponents of space tourism argue that this money would be better spent solving problems here on Earth.

One rocket launch can release up to 300 tons of carbon dioxide.