Next Stop, Space!

On September 16, 2021, a spacecraft called the Crew Dragon Resilience blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. Unlike all space missions before it, not one of the crew members on board was an astronaut! Resilience took a 72-hour trip orbiting Earth before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.

The mission, known as Inspiration4, was operated by the company SpaceX. It’s one of several recent missions that sent civilians, people who aren’t trained astronauts, to space. The mission’s commander, business owner Jared Isaacman, spent millions of dollars to fund the flight. The crew also included a physician assistant, a geologist, and a software engineer.

A rocket launched on September 16, 2021. It took off from the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. The rocket carried a spacecraft called the Crew Dragon Resilience. This space mission was different from others. None of the crew members on board were astronauts! The craft took a 72-hour trip orbiting Earth. Then it splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.  

The mission was called Inspiration4. The company SpaceX ran it. It was just one of several recent missions that sent civilians to space. A civilian is someone without astronaut training. Business owner Jared Isaacman led the mission. He spent millions of dollars to fund the flight. Three others were part of the crew. One was a physician assistant. Another was a geologist. The third member was a software engineer.

Inspiration4 sparked excitement about the future of space tourism. “Seeing ‘regular people’ go to space makes space more relatable,” says Wendy Whitman Cobb. She’s a space and security expert at the U.S. Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.

So when will average people get to travel to space? Experts say the chance to take a trip to space is several decades away for most people. But researchers and business leaders are taking major steps toward making space travel for all a possibility.

The mission got people talking about space tourism. “Seeing ‘regular people’ go to space makes space more relatable,” says Wendy Whitman Cobb. She’s a space and security expert at the U.S. Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. 

So when will average people get to travel to space? Experts say the chance for a trip is decades away for most people. But companies are moving toward making space travel for all possible.  

In September, SpaceX’s Inspiration4 carried four civilians into low Earth orbit. That means the spacecraft traveled high and fast enough to orbit Earth like a satellite. To prepare for this 72-hour mission, its crew members had to train for several months.

Passengers on these recent missions were able to experience microgravity. Many passengers also said that seeing the planet from space made them realize how small Earth is.

SpaceX’s Inspiration4 carried four civilians. They traveled into low Earth orbit in September. The spacecraft flew high and fast enough to orbit Earth like a satellite. Its crew members had to train for several months to prepare for this 72-hour mission.

People on these missions experienced microgravity, or weightlessness. They also saw Earth from space. Many said that made them realize how small our planet is. 

What stands in the way of making space tourism available for more people? “The biggest challenge is lowering the cost,” says Stanley Borowski, a former NASA engineer. Today, space travel is so expensive that only the very rich can afford to go. Tourists have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars or more to spend time in space. Others received special invitations.

Another challenge for longer trips is finding a place to go. Right now, the one place with breathable air is the International Space Station (ISS). That’s a research station run by several countries, including the U.S. Tourists may also head to the moon. NASA is planning to return to the moon in 2025. “If NASA is successful, tourist trips there may follow,” Whitman Cobb says.

A third challenge is safety. There are very few laws about space tourism and the training and preparation that must be done for it. Governments are working to pass laws to keep space tourists as safe as possible.

What’s stopping more tourists from going to space? “The biggest challenge is lowering the cost,” says Stanley Borowski. He’s a former NASA engineer. Today, space travel is very expensive. Only the very rich can afford to go. Some tourists have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to visit space. Others got special invites.

Another challenge for longer trips is where to go. There’s only one place with air right now: the International Space Station (ISS). That’s a research lab run by several countries, including the U.S. Tourists may also head to the moon. NASA is planning to return there in 2025. “If NASA is successful, tourist trips there may follow,” Whitman Cobb says.

A third challenge is safety. There are few laws about space tourism flights. And there are few rules for how space tourists should train and prepare. Governments are working to pass laws to keep space tourists as safe as possible. 

Not everyone thinks space tourism is a good idea. Eloise Marais studies air pollution at the University College London. She argues that the wealthy companies coordinating space missions should instead focus on solving problems on Earth. “There are many environmental problems that need money to solve,” she says. Scientists also worry that rockets could create dangerous amounts of air pollution.

Those in favor of space tourism hope it allows more people to experience the wonder of space. They are also excited for the new technology that companies will design as they plan trips to the ISS, the moon, and even planets like Mars. If those options were open to you, would you want to go?

Not everyone thinks space tourism is a good idea. Eloise Marais studies air pollution at the University College London. She argues that wealthy space companies should instead focus on problems on Earth. “There are many environmental problems that need money to solve,” she says. Scientists also worry that rockets could create a lot of air pollution.

But many are in favor of space tourism. They hope it allows more people to see the wonder of space. They are also excited for the new technology companies will design. New technology is needed to plan trips to the ISS, the moon, and even planets like Mars. Would you want to be a space tourist if the option was open to you?