A well known entrepreneur claimed in late 2018 that his company will be taking passengers into space by the end of 2019, which are a few months from now.
Whether or not he meets that deadline, most experts agree that it is only a matter of time before commercial space travel becomes a reality.
As reported, there are growing indications that Australia could play a key role in the emerging space tourism industry.
According to the businessman, Australia is an extremely attractive location for a spaceport and would love to setup an operation in the country, and to work with the government in order to make that possible.
Potential for space tourism
The Director of the new Australian Space Agency, Dr Megan Clark, told the delegates at the University of South Australia’s eighth Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program last February that the Agency is taking this interest very seriously and is extremely positive about space tourism in general.
The time has come for other Australian industry leaders, from sectors including space, tourism, food, health and education, to be actively developing strategies aimed at ensuring Australia is a key global player in future space tourism.
It has such huge potential to become a major industry delivering many multiplier economic effects – Australia can build a whole tourism ecosystem with numerous sub-economies around space tourism.
If there is a spaceport in Australia, for instance, people do not just fly in and fly out. They will have to be fed, insured, would need medical checks, psychological support and training.
Business ecosystem
Moreover, they will have family with them who will need to be accommodated. All of these extra dimensions would develop into a network around space travel.
Other opportunities that cater to people who want to go to space but for health reasons, cannot do so, can also be tapped into.
An example of which is a space-themed park, which offers simulation services, on Australian ground can increase space tourism attraction.
Currently, there are eight travel agencies from Australia that are working with the businessman. While prices for a ticket are currently high, it will inevitable fall.
When they do, it is essential that Australia has already established a place in the industry.
Target market
This kind of travel will not only cater for the rich for long as the demand will be so great that it will eventually make it more accessible.
There are several reasons why people will want to go to space – adventure, spiritual wonder, and even to gain fame and celebrity status.
These people will be willing to pay a lot of money for that experience as well as the services around it. Thus, it is imperative that Australia will be able to provide that to them.
The potential social good that could arise from regular routine access to space should not be underestimated.
For one, space tourism could provide greater opportunity and funds for scientific research. It can also bring down the costs associated with other orbital technology such as satellites.
Moreover, it could possible provide new perspectives for travellers’ understanding of Earth and the universe.
Space tourism falls into the category of what is known as ‘transformational services’, which are not consumed just to satisfy basic survival needs.
Transformational services enable people to rethink and re-set their value system, their priorities and way of thinking, to learn and to self-develop, to change their attitude, mindsets or their behaviour or perception about certain things.
Anyone travelling into space and seeing the Earth from above, even if it is only for a very brief period of time, will likely be psychologically and socially transformed by the experience in some way.