Space Tourism - Attitudes Toward Space Tourism

Attitudes Toward Space Tourism

A web-based survey suggested that over 70% of those surveyed wanted less than or equal to 2 weeks in space; in addition, 88% wanted to spacewalk (only 14% of these would do it for a 50% premium), and 21% wanted a hotel or space station.

The concept has met with some criticism from politicians, notably Günter Verheugen, vice-president of the European Commission, who said of the EADS Astrium Space Tourism Project: "It's only for the super rich, which is against my social convictions".

While the current price point set for space tours is only attainable by the wealthy, it does not mean that the space tourism project should be snubbed. Back in the 1930s, the first airplane ride auctioned off was sold for $400, which would equate to over $5,000 in present day’s currency value. As another point of contrast, the initial commercial plane industry could only support 6,000 passengers and a round trip flight coast approximately $260, which would have been half the price of a new car at that time. However, as the technology advanced to become easier to produce, and as the demand for the product remained high, prices were adjusted. As a result, airplane travel is attainable for a wider spectrum of class groups. Technology often follows this trend. Instead of being blinded by the feeling of exclusion, it could be argued that the wealthy serve as a focus group for the space tourism “product”, helping work out the logistic, comfort, and safety kinks that may currently be present in the industry.