The future of space tourism

Since childhood, Ilida Alvarez had dreamed of flying into space. However, two factors made her dream difficult to realize: Alvarez was afraid of heights, and she wasn't a billionaire. Alvarez thought she would never reach the stars.

Later, Rafael Landestoy, her 46-year-old lawyer husband, booked a special trip. They would sit in a pressurized capsule filled with a giant helium balloon that could hold 10 people. This capsule would float at an altitude of 100,000 feet (approximately 30,000 meters). Passengers would recline in ergonomic seats, sipping champagne while gazing at the sky. To book the trip, passengers had to pay a deposit of $500 (approximately 11 million VND). The cost for a 6-12 hour flight was around $50,000 (over 11 billion VND).

"This trip was designed specifically for people with a fear of heights like me," Alvarez said. Her flight, organized by World View, will depart from the Grand Canyon in 2024.

What is space tourism?

First, altitude will be the most important factor. Sixty miles (approximately 96 km) above us is the Kármán line, the recognized aviation boundary of Earth's atmosphere. This boundary is certified by the Féderátion Aéronautique Internationale, which stores and licenses global space travel. However, many organizations, including the FAA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and NASA, consider space to be about 50 miles above the surface.

Currently, three private space companies owned by three prominent billionaires have begun operating civilian space flights. Branson's Virgin Galactic sent William Shatner and other VIP guests into space on a rocket that reached an altitude of 53 miles (approximately 84 km). Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have conducted numerous civilian flights reaching altitudes of up to 120 miles (nearly 190 km) beyond the atmosphere.

Additionally, while pressurized capsule systems with balloons cannot reach the necessary altitude, they offer an experience similar to space tourism. The World View devices only reach altitudes of 18-19 miles (28-30 km). Passengers inside can enjoy panoramic views of the Earth's surface. This is the experience professional astronauts have when they begin their ascent into orbit.

Space tourism is booming.

Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic began selling tickets for space tourism years ago. Both companies have been licensed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Their customer lists number in the hundreds to thousands, with people patiently waiting their turn to admire Earth from space. Meanwhile, SpaceX is selling space tourism packages costing up to $10 million. The company is building more facilities under FAA supervision.

Craig Curran, owner of Deprez Travel in Rochester, New York, is a passionate advocate for this burgeoning space travel industry. Since 2011, he has spent millions of dollars booking seats on Virgin Galactic space tours. His company also owns a space tourism program called Galactic Experiences by Deprez. Craig Curran sells everything related to aerospace, from tickets to rocket launches to astronaut training programs.

Mr. Curran acknowledged that sales in the space tourism sector are "extremely difficult to generate" and come primarily from peer networks.

"Those who are willing to spend $450,000 (nearly 10 billion VND) on space travel don't belong to the same class or environment as us," Curran said.

At Deprez Travel, travelers can experience the feeling of traveling in weightlessness, like being in outer space. The company uses specialized Boeing 727 aircraft that fly continuously in parabolic arcs.

For tourists who are afraid of heights and cannot tolerate strenuous activity, pressurized chambers are the most suitable option. Jane Ponynter, co-founder of Space Perspective, believes their service ensures comfort for visitors.

"Our pressurized capsules travel at 12 miles per hour (approximately 19 km/h), so visitors can comfortably admire the Earth from above without having to endure uncomfortable training sessions," Jane shared.

Space Perspective will be installing pressurized capsules on the Spaceship Neptune. If all goes according to plan, the trips are expected to depart from Florida in 2024, at a cost of $125,000 per person. This is lower than the cost of space travel tickets offered by Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic.

Problems that arose

Insurance companies were quick to adapt to the trend. By the end of 2021, a flurry of insurance packages for tourists traveling by spacecraft or pressurized capsule emerged. These packages offer benefits for accidental death and permanent disability in space and are valid for spaceflights by operators such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic, as well as for balloon trips in the stratosphere.

"The future of space tourism compels us to react immediately. However, customers are demanding more benefits for these packages, and yet no one is truly interested in buying them," shared Sasha Gainullin, a representative from an insurance company. "Currently, only the elite are choosing space tourism, and they already have other types of insurance. But, when this customer segment becomes more widespread, that's when we'll get involved."

As the space travel industry develops, the environment will be the first victim. Rocket launches release enormous amounts of carbon, and balloon flights in the stratosphere also pose significant risks. They waste fuel, as a single World View spacecraft is powered by thousands of cubic meters of helium.

"Space tourism cannot have the same environmental impact as air travel. This type of tourism still has a long way to go to develop, and the operating costs are too high, so the number of passengers will be limited," said Ted Parson, a professor of environmental law at the University of California.

Anh Thi