Space Tourism

The idea of space tourism came about in the latter half of the 20^th century.  Since the development of the rocket engine powerful enough to overcome the force of Earth’s gravitational pull to reach orbital speeds that could open space to human exploration only a few have done it. The few that have seen Outer Space are those that were rich and famous. In 1984 President Ronald Reagan signed the Commercial Space Launch Act (Space and Technology, 2009-2011).  This Act required that any person who wanted to launch a commercial rocket be licensed.  In 2004 President George W Bush signed the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (CSLAA), which specified parameters for commercial human space travel (Encyclopedia Britannica). In 2010 President Barack Obama signed The NASA Authorization Act of 2010, which authorized NASA to set a new course for American human spaceflight (GEOData Policy, 2010).

The Space tourism industry has evolved into a topic of interest to many around the world.  This is evident in that Virgin Galactic sold over 300 seats at $200,000 each for it’s suborbital space tourism flights that are scheduled to begin in 2015 (Seedhouse, 2014).

Two major hurdles that has been an issue in the commercial space travel industry are regulations safety.  In the beginning the FAA had a difficult time regulating how individual companies design their spacecraft’s.  They also had problems effectively measuring the safety of the participants being launched into space. One accomplishment of the space tourism industry would be the flight that Dennis Tito took to the space station Mir. The launch and return of SpaceShipOne, which became the first privately owned manned spacecraft to visit outer space (Smithsonian National). 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations that currently controls commercial space exploration requires that the spacecraft operators provide safety-related information and identify what an operator must do to carry out a licensed space flight with a human on board. Furthermore, the spacecraft operators must inform passengers of the risks involved in space travel as well as the risks of space travel in the operator’s spacecraft. The FAA also requires that each participant be trained.  As in air travel participants must undergo general security requirements for space flight. The Federal Aviation Administration has also established requirements for crew notification, medical qualifications and training, as well as requirements governing environmental control and life support systems. They also require that the spacecraft operator verify the combined functioning of the vehicle’s hardware and the software in an operational setting as well as a test flight verification before any space flight participant can get on board.

The space exploration regulations were established in 2004 under the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (FAA, 2007). These rules were developed because commercial space exploration is a growing field of interest and the FAA’s has an ongoing commitment to public safety as well as ensuring that people make educated decisions when it comes to their personal safety

I think the current regulations for commercial space exploration are appropriate.  The restriction that they have are enough, if more restriction are added at this stage of commercial space exploration may never be because of the restriction which would make it hard or maybe impossible for operators to comply with.   As we become more familiar with space travel I think that the rules and regulation should evolve.   

I believe in the next 15 year commercial space travel will be something that everyone can participate in.  I think I will evolve like commercial air travel, which is now another normal way to travel. I don’t think that commercial space travel will ever be a one-time bucket list adventure because there are too many people interested in seeing what beyond Earth’s blue sky.  I can see years down the line humans trying to populate other planets because we have the ability to travel outside of Earths atmosphere.   

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration the basic requirements to be considered for an Astronaut Pilot position are: Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in either engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Candidate must have three years of experience or a graduate degree, which can be substituted for less then the minimum required experience time.  For example a Masters degree is equivalent to one year of experience, while a Doctoral degree is equivalent to three years of experience.  Candidates that have teaching experience with student in K-12 are also considered to have qualifying experience. Candidates must have at least 1,000 hours of flight time as pilot-in-command in a jet aircraft. Candidates must be able to pass a NASA space physical, which is comparable to a military or civilian flight physical that includes having distant visual acuity: 20/100 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 each eye (NASA).  Blood pressure in a seated position may not exceed 140/90 when measured. Last be not least candidates must be between 5 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 3inches due to the confined quarters within the spacecraft. 

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act | United States [2004]. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Commercial-Space-Launch-Amendments

Erik Seedhouse. ( 2014, October 31). Space tourism. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/topic/space-tourism#ref1117971

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2007, February 7). New Regulations Govern Private Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants. Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/human_space_flight_reqs/

GEOData Policy. (2010, September 30). NASA Authorization Act of 2010. Retrieved from https://geodatapolicy.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/nasa-authorization-act-of-2010/

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (n.d.). Astronaut Selection and Training. Retrieved from http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/606877main_FS-2011-11-057-JSC-astro_trng.pdf

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. (n.d.). SpaceShipOne. Retrieved from http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A20050459000  

Space and Technology Policy Group. (2009-2011). Space Law. Retrieved from http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/space-law