Rapid Expansion of Space Tourism Reserved Exclusively for the Affluent

Commercial space travel is becoming increasingly routine, and despite the lofty price tags, projections suggest the space tourism industry's value will surge to $3 billion by 2030.

In a remarkable journey last month, a diverse trio of spacefarers, comprising an American, a Brit, and a South African, embarked on Virgin Galactic's third tourist space flight. This mission marked a significant milestone, coming after a successful August mission and a June research expedition in collaboration with the Italian Air Force.

The fruition of these space launches by Virgin Galactic, catering to affluent individuals, reflects nearly two decades of relentless effort. These launches occurred more than a decade later than originally planned by the company's founder, British entrepreneur Richard Branson. The program faced substantial setbacks, including a tragic 2014 accident that claimed the life of one of its pilots, nearly bringing the program to a standstill.

Virgin Galactic is not alone in its spacefaring ambitions; other prominent players include Blue Origin and SpaceX, sparking a modern-day space race driven by billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. According to UBS estimates, the space tourism market is poised to attain a market value of $3 billion by 2030.

Securing a ticket to space comes at a steep cost, hovering around the half-million-dollar mark

Ana Mayers, an 18-year-old student hailing from Antigua, became the youngest person to journey into space. She was accompanied by her mother, Keisha Schahaff, in a testament to the extraordinary democratization of space tourism. Mayers, who won her ticket in a lottery orchestrated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, shared her awe-inspiring experience, stating, "It was amazing to see Earth from space. It was so comfortable, and it was the best journey of my life.”

In stark contrast, John Goodwin, an 80-year-old former Olympic swimmer battling Parkinson's disease, paid a substantial $250,000 for his space ticket back in 2005. This early decision turned out to be a prudent financial move since tickets now command a staggering $450,000, leading to an extensive 800-person waitlist.

Richard Branson secured a triumphant lead in the space race, making his voyage into space aboard Virgin Galactic's spacecraft on July 11, 2021, just nine days before a similar flight by Blue Origin's rocket. Expressing his exhilaration before liftoff, Branson declared, "I'm not at all afraid. This is a dream come true. I'm in my 70s now - it's either you give up or you stay fit and enjoy life." Branson and five other passengers soared to an altitude of 80 kilometers, experiencing minutes of weightlessness before landing safely. This month marked Virgin Galactic's third commercial spaceflight, featuring three paying passengers, two pilots, and an astronaut, reaching the edge of space merely 45 minutes post-launch.

In a parallel adventure, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin, lauded his space journey in 2021 as the "best day ever." Bezos' space odyssey lasted a brief 10 minutes and 10 seconds, courtesy of the New Shepard rocket developed by Blue Origin, his space venture established in 2000. He enthusiastically noted, "I had high expectations, and it was much better than that." Bezos stood out by volunteering to be on the company's maiden crewed flight, while Virgin Galactic had conducted prior spaceflights with astronauts before Branson joined.

Joining Bezos on his voyage were his brother, aviation luminary Wally Funk, and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, who secured his spot as the youngest person to journey into space. Daemen, whose father is a prosperous Dutch real estate investor, initially won a place on the second planned flight through a ticket lottery. However, when the initial seat winner, Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, who had bid a staggering $28 million for the ticket, withdrew at the last moment, Daemen seized the opportunity. Although the precise amount Daemen paid remains undisclosed, it undoubtedly amounted to several million dollars.

 

Source: calcalistech.com