Science
fiction predicted it years ago, but what actually is space tourism? Space tourism
describes a concept suggesting that ordinary people may sooner or later be able
to travel to space and back for recreational, leisure or business purposes. In
fact, it is very similar to the tourism existing on earth. The only small, yet
significant, difference is that space tourism, as its name already indicates,
is supposed to take place in space. According to various predictions there will
be space hotels, specific space activities (things to do on your orbital
holiday), as well as specially created space sports adapted to zero gravity.
This
project is yet to be realized, but market research has shown that the idea of
space tourism is extremely popular. According to a survey, many people even
wish to go out repeatedly, and live and work there one day. What is more, an
increasing number of commercial enterprises have been starting up over the last
few years. The progress that has been made recently is incredible and gives all
the more rise to the supposition that space tourism will soon become reality. However,
the question is when and how will it come into existence? So far a great deal
of problems, notably the high costs, has kept space tourism from developing any
further.
The
fascination of Space Tourism is completely comprehensible. I mean, who would not
like to look at the Earth floating in space? Who would not like to admire the
stars from close up? And who would not like to have the amazing experience of
living in zero gravity, if only for a few days? In a world where people are more
and more seeking to experience unusual and unique adventures, to do things that
no one has ever done before and to go to places no one has ever been to before,
it is very likely that people wish to go to orbit at least once in their
lifetime as well. If this is true, space tourism may be the biggest unexploited
new market of the 21st century.
(main source: http://www.spacefuture.com/tourism/hotels.shtml)
