Space travel is one of the newest trends in the science, tourism, and economic sectors and is sparking great interest worldwide. The uncharted and unknown territory of our universe makes it an alluring experience for travelers, scientists, and those who see the potential revenue gained from free-market space travel. It would also help mankind understand their place in the galaxy, pushing scientific and technological discovery in places humans have never seen before. Space travel, however, is not without its own set of unique challenges, particularly the environmental impacts as well as the financial accessibility of such an experience. By reviewing the upside and downside, we can determine if free-market space travel and space tourism is really on the horizon.
The Upside
From a purely scientific level, space travel is important to understand space. It provides information and answers to the questions humans have about the galaxy by going out there and witnessing it first-hand. In NASA’s “Why We Explore” page from their website, they explain that traveling to places like the Moon and Mars will provide knowledge on Earth’s geomagnetic field, what effects galactic cosmic radiation has on Earth, and is close enough in proximity to Earth that it’s a good starting spot for venturing out to other planets. Free-market space tourism and space travel can speed up NASA’s goals of understanding the universe by making interplanetary travel more accessible, and more competitive. Private companies and billionaires have the resources to experiment with their own technology, which helps in advancing planetary travel scientific research with less pressure on NASA and other organizations. It can also lead to more careers for those interested in galactic fields. Engineers and other galactic-related workers would no longer need to compete for jobs created by NASA or other prominent space organizations. They would have the option to work for a private company, while still pursuing a job in a field they are knowledgeable and passionate about if the market is expanded. Space travel and space tourism is projected to be worth $30 billion by 2030, according to an article from Space.com, showing the growing interest in free-market space travel. With proper investment, free-market space travel and space tourism can benefit the economy and scientific research.
The Downside
The expanse of space travel into private sectors does come with its own fair share of challenges. One of the main issues is the environmental costs of multiple rocket rides into space. According to an article from Earth.org, hybrid engines like Branson’s Virgin Galactic rocket generate as much pollution as a 10-hour flight in just a 30-minute rocket launch. This type of excessive pollution would have serious impacts on the Earth’s atmosphere if more companies got involved in space tourism and space travel, which would speed up the global warming crisis. In addition to the environmental costs, there are economic costs. Most of the people involved in free-market space travel are the world’s wealthiest. Many average people are feeling the financial effects of the pandemic, and countries that have large populations living in poverty were also economically devastated by the pandemic. The tickets for a seat on a Virgin Galactic space tour is roughly $450,000 USD (approx. $571,000 CAD). While Bezos has not directly disclosed the pricing for the tickets with his company, Blue Origin, a seat next to Bezos was auctioned at $28 million USD ($35.5 million CAD) (NY Times). The pricing of these tickets is a display of what kind of privilege is required to participate in free-market space travel. The environmental impacts in addition to the hefty price tag give something for people to think about on who is permitted to pollute the environment in the name of science.
As space travel and space tourism become a more popular idea, it is important to consider the positives and negatives that come with such a drastic change to human life. The notion of being able to pay for a ride into space without needing to be an astronaut is certainly breathtaking. Reduced competition for galactic jobs can help bring more perspectives in developing rocket technology, benefitting both private companies and public organizations. But, free-market space travel is still in its developing stage. The severe environmental costs to test launch rockets and the unaffordable pricing of tickets can show a need to step back and think about whether this industry is developing in the right direction and for the right purpose.
Tourism as it stands today, however, will continue to place immense pressure on our environment as it directly impacts depletion of local natural resources, added stress of local land use and substantial impact on endangered species. Advancing towards space travel may possess the ability to reduce environmental here on earth, but ultimately, we are at a time where travel and tourism both on earth and in space must breakthrough eco boundaries and develop with sustainability in mind.
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