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Billionaires’ Space Tourism Dreams: More Than Just Flights of Fancy, Say Experts

Billionaires’ Space Tourism Dreams More Than Just Flights of Fancy, Say Experts

Billionaire-driven space tourism is more than a playground for the ultra-wealthy—it holds potential for the future of space exploration and scientific research, according to planetary experts. As Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk prepare for upcoming spaceflights, experts predict this could mark the beginning of a new era in space travel.

On July 11, 2021, Branson’s Virgin Galactic was scheduled to launch from New Mexico, potentially making him the first of the three billionaires to reach outer space. Nine days later, Bezos’s Blue Origin will follow, launching from Texas, while Musk’s SpaceX will take flight later in the year. These trips won’t just be joyrides—they aim to reach the Kármán Line, the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and space, giving passengers a brief experience of weightlessness and a view of Earth’s curvature.

Kate Howells, space policy adviser for the Planetary Society, views these flights as a stepping stone toward more accessible commercial space travel. “This is taking space tourism to the next level,” Howells said, noting that while the trips remain expensive, they are cheaper than past alternatives like travelling to the International Space Station. She sees this as a sign of things to come, where more people will have the chance to venture into space.

At present, ticket prices are still exorbitant. One person paid $28 million for a seat on Bezos’s upcoming flight. However, planetary experts believe that as these spaceflights become more frequent and accessible, they could also open doors for scientific research in suborbital space.

Space Research Benefits

For experts like Marc Boucher, founder of SpaceQ Media, the potential for space research is what makes these launches exciting. “There’s a lot of research happening in space right now, mostly on the International Space Station, but it’s expensive,” he said. “These suborbital flights could offer cheaper alternatives for conducting experiments.”

Universities and private companies have long relied on expensive missions to conduct research in space. Still, suborbital flights by Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX could significantly lower costs. Each company has called for scientific payloads on its missions, allowing research teams to gather data and relay it back to Earth.

Sara Mazrouei, a planetary scientist from Ryerson University, is hopeful about the ripple effect these flights could have on technological advancement. “The last space race that got us to the moon gave us the technology for things like foam mattresses and bulletproof vests,” Mazrouei explained. “Now, as more research happens in space, we could see breakthroughs that improve life on Earth.”

A New Space Race

The modern space race differs from the government-led race to the moon in the 1960s. Now, private companies are competing for dominance in space tourism. While personal ambitions drive Branson, Bezos, and Musk, planetary experts believe their ventures have the potential to advance space research and technological progress.

According to Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, private space companies have an essential role to play in the future of space exploration. Kutryk, who is training to go to space with the Canadian Space Agency, said, “We’re seeing private companies pushing the boundaries of space travel. That’s important not just for tourism, but for the future of space exploration.”

Although space tourism remains a luxury experience, experts agree that as the cost of space travel decreases, it will lead to more opportunities for research. With the involvement of private companies and universities, suborbital space could become a hub for scientific discovery.

As these billionaires make their way to space, the world is watching. While the trips themselves are historic, the true significance lies in the potential to revolutionise space research. If space travel becomes more affordable, the implications for science, technology, and the future of exploration could be limitless.

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