Humans’ future frontier: Space tourism

Nirakar Shrestha Vaidya

In the olden times sky was looked upon as heaven and places for gods and goddesses. Travelling though space was considered unimaginable. This has already been turned into a reality in today’s time. The curious human beings have constantly surprised themselves and achieved what once was just an idea among the heads of few. Landing on the moon has been achieved, knowledge of solar system has been gained and space has been explored to some extent. Rockets, satellites and penetration of atmosphere have been increasing with incredible ease and frequency in recent years. Space station has been constructed, ambition and purpose of travel into space widened. And now furthermore the notion of space tourism is bringing about a new dimension and revolution into the travel of space and the world of tourism.

Dennis Tito, an American businessman, has already set the ‘space tourist’ mark. He was the first civilian in space, although he paid a fortune to do this. He has made possible to materialize the idea of tourist into space. It is only a matter of time that this revolution of space tourism will be industrialized with advancing technology and human drive. We, the normal everyday people, can only imagine what space travelling would be like but in future it is my prediction that space tourism will be a lucrative business and space a popular destination. With Tito’s success mission the second adventurous passenger has also followed his step. When people have had enough of this world, space would be an ultimate destination and hopefully, maybe even a destination that is within average peoples reach. We hope it happens within our generation’s time. After all, space tourism is going to be the gateway for non-astronauts or general public to experience space. No one would want to miss this opportunity if given a chance.

Imagine the excitement and adventure it will add to the meaning of tourism. We would be travelling millions of miles, in the most sophisticated aircrafts, or rockets speeding faster than the rate of light. The flight alone will be breathtaking. It would like sitting on a F16 doing an after burn or even intense than that. The G force running through our body will give us the ultimate feeling of adrenal rush! Can we imagine orbital hotels, inter-space transport, star-trek like habitat, the feeling of zero gravity, floating in weightlessness? How would it feel to be wining and dining with our family and friends in the middle of the solar system or landing on Mars and touching the red planet? Ideas and fictions like this have been visualized in the science fiction movies and science itself has the capacity to convert the imagination into reality.

From the moment we take off from this earth, every minute of the journey would be totally new experience. We would have stars, moons and planets as new concept of countries and oceans. We would have balls of planets as our landmark destinations floating in the void. We can sit in space itself and experience the solar and lunar eclipses; we will be able to experience the fury of the fiery sun with our own eyes. We would be able to be close to all this than we have ever been before, the idea itself is scary, yet exciting.

We would be talking of which system we visited, what stars we saw, which planet we have been to, which one of the space hotels we stayed in and extra terrestrial things we came into contact with. We would be able to live our dreams and achieve what can only be done in the figment of our imagination. No matter what, every bit of it would be a mind-blowing experience and a lifelong memory for us.

How will the management of space tourism and travel be? Will we have space travel agents? Will there be packaged tours for space? Will we be studying inter planetary destinations in the classrooms? Or will we be studying about the highest mountains in the universe? All these questions and curiosities are building up inside me with the introduction of a single concept of ‘space tourism’.

To think of more there will be a lot of factors that would need to be considered. The first issue would be the passengers itself. The health issue would come into play; will they be compelled to put age restrictions? Passengers would have to get used to the atmosphere and go through trainings. Their fitness and physical capability will have to be considered. Like the climates we would have to be acclimatized. Compression. Decompression and wearing of space suits and space wear would be a must. Will fashion industries be concentrating and inventing new space suit and space wear designs?

Safety would be even a bigger issue and insurance would be of interest. Scientists, technicians, doctors and intellectuals would be more needed and their responsibility would be immense. How would the advertisement campaigns work? Maybe they would have to show simulations and experience of space on the earth first. Travel agencies for space would have greater management and use more probes to convince people to travel and convey that they have a safe solution. They would have totally new area to develop and have to think of how they can convince people to get there and enjoy it without themselves going there. All the issues will keep coming as we tackle the new dimension and face new challenges. There would have to be better management and vast fields of agencies and personnel have to work together to make it successful. This could all come into play while studying travel and tourism in the future.

For now it is only in our minds we can comprehend the idea. The idea is no doubt exciting and adventurous. Yet we can only imagine for now. Not only would we he changing destinations and countries, we would be changing planets, moons, stars and who knows even universe and galaxies. What is next for us, travelling through time in a time machine and even reach the black holes? In every aspect there is a potential for tourism and where there is imagination and technology the opportunities are limitless. One thing for sure is that tourism is such a field that it can be applied anywhere and sure enough it will continue to strive forward in the future in the new frontiers.

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