Space tourism is the concept of traveling to outer space for recreational purposes. This idea has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the late 20th century that it became a reality. In this article, we will explore when space tourism started and how it has evolved since then.
Early Ideas of Space Tourism
The idea of space travel for pleasure dates back to the 17th century when Cyrano de Bergerac wrote “The Other World: The States and Empires of the Moon.” In this novel, he describes a rocket-powered spacecraft that could take people to the moon. However, it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that space travel became a reality.
The First Space Tourist
In 2001, American businessman Dennis Tito became the first person to pay for a trip to space. He paid $20 million to the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) for a seat on their Soyuz spacecraft. Tito spent eight days in orbit and returned to Earth on May 6, 2001.
Subsequent Space Tourists
After Tito’s successful trip, several other people followed in his footsteps. Mark Shuttleworth, a South African entrepreneur, became the second paying space tourist in 2002. He also traveled on a Soyuz spacecraft and spent eight days in orbit.
In 2005, Gregory Olsen became the third space tourist and the first private citizen to conduct scientific research while in orbit. He paid $20 million for his trip on a Soyuz spacecraft and spent nine days in space.
Current State of Space Tourism
Since Tito’s historic flight in 2001, there have been only seven other paying tourists who have traveled to space. However, several companies are working towards making space tourism more accessible and affordable.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, for example, is designed to take astronauts and space tourists to the International Space Station (ISS). The company plans to launch its first commercial mission, called Inspiration4, in late 2021. This mission will take four private citizens to orbit for three days.
Other companies such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are also working on developing spacecraft that can take tourists to space. Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft has already completed several successful test flights with crew members on board.
Conclusion
Space tourism may have started with Dennis Tito’s historic trip in 2001, but it is still a relatively new concept. However, advancements in technology and the efforts of private companies are making it more accessible than ever before. With more people able to visit space in the future, we may see a new era of space exploration and discovery.
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