If you are fan of “Avengers” franchise, then you must be having some ideas about how things happen in the space. But, to have a real outer space experience like an Avenger, would be absolutely marvel-lous!
The concept / idea has been there for quite some time and owing to companies like SpaceX (Elon Musk), Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos), Virgin Galactic (Sir Richard Branson) and Axiom Space, I believe this dream would be a reality for not-so-common people in near future.
Exploring new horizons
Space travel or tourism is no longer a science fiction that we see only in Hollywood movies. This segment has gained a remarkable attention during the recent past. The concept of space travel & tourism dates back to early 1960s when the Russians were having the idea of sending ordinary people (non-astronauts) to space, especially after Yuri Gagarin.
Though there were setbacks in initial stages due to funding constraints and safety measures as well as due to lack of technology, the outlook of the industry is promising as there are a few numbers of private companies leading the industry towards a common goal, making space tourism a reality.
“You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great – and that’s what being a spacefaring civilization is all about. It’s about believing in the future and thinking that the future will be better than the past. And I can’t think of anything more exciting than going out there and being among the stars.” – Elon Musk
The future of space tourism
The main constraint for space travel is the cost factor. The safety concern is also there. An enormous amount of work and innovation is required to build mixed-use destinations for commerce, research, tourism, and more. Above mentioned companies are working mainly with NASA, other big companies which has interested in space travel as well as the universities, to make this vision a reality.
The goal of space tourism is becoming more realistic as these private enterprises keep innovating and pushing the limits of space travel. A new era in the history of human discovery is rapidly approaching when common people can set off on their own journeys into the galaxy.
Conclusion
Space tourism is all about reaching beyond the boundaries of our planet for leisure purposes. This offers an opportunity for common people to experience the awesomeness of space, witness magnificent views, and experience low gravity, which only the Astronauts had the luxury of having.
Space tourism will be an incredible event that will make a lasting impression on everyone who is fortunate enough to embark on such a journey.
Text: Tharindu Nirmala Karunasooriya Arachchi Appuhamilage, first year International Tourism Management student
Pictures: Pixabay