Most people do not realize how real space tourism is today. Below are links to some information to get you up to speed. Enjoy!
Articles
- http://www.spacedaily.com/news/tourism-02i.html
- http://www.zogby.com/soundbites/ReadClips.dbm?ID=4398
- http://www.futron.com/news/pressrelease/default.htm
Information about a recent Futron/Zogby Public Space Travel Poll adds more ammunition to the credibility of space tourism. Over 7% of affluent would pay $20 million for 2-week orbital flight; 19% would pay $100,000 for 15-minute sub-orbital flight.
Space.com has a basic collection of articles on space tourism.
"Practical Tourism in Space" is a report describing possible paths to making space tourism a viable industry.
Surveys
There have been many attempts to analyze the potential market for space tourism. Some studies are more realistic than others. The studies below show some of the work done in the past on this topic.
- Feasibility of Space Tourism "Cost Study for Space Tour"-- Presented to the International Astronautical Federation in 1989, five Japanese researchers take the survey results from the short-lived Society Expeditions program and developed a space hotel.
- Space Tourism for Europe: A Case Study-- Presented in 1993, this paper contains detailed market analysis of space tourism from a German and European perspective.
- COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION STUDY-- Published in 1995, this was the first ever collaborative effort by NASA and its major contractors to study potential new markets for space. It is a magnificient tome, over 1000 pages long, but it covers things from high-speed cargo transport, space tourism, and even orbital movie studios.
- Demand for Space Tourism in America and Japan, and its Implications for Future Space Activities-- Published in 1995, this report compares the results of the space tourism studies conducted in North America and in Japan.
- General Public Space Travel and Tourism - Volume 1 Executive Summary-- Published in 1998, this is the first time NASA ever tried to evaluate the public's interest in the topic of space tourism.
- General Public Space Travel and Tourism Volume 2 - Workshop Proceedings-- This is Volume 2 of the above study.
- An evaluation of the potential demand for Space Tourism within the United Kingdom-- Published in 1999, the purpose of this research is to provide an evaluation of the potential demand for space tourism within the United Kingdom (U.K).
- Space Tourism and its Effects on Space Commercialization-- Published in 1999 as part of an International Space University project, this report covers the many aspects of space tourism and summarizes the results of previous studies.
- The Cost of Capital for Space Tourism Ventures-- Presented to the International Astronautical Congress in 2000, this report analyzes the opportunity costs for space tourism using standard economic models.
- System Requirements for Commercial Passenger Travel to LEO-- Presented to the International Astronautical Federation in 2001; Andrews Space and Technology, under contract to NASA, recently investigated systems engineering transportation requirements for selected future commercial market segments: semiconductor production, tissue engineering, manufacture of recombinant drugs, and LEO passenger travel.
- Futron/Zogby Public Space Travel Poll Space travel is new exciting option for those who can afford it; 7% of affluent would pay $20 million for 2-week orbital flight; 19% would pay $100,000 for 15-minute sub-orbital flight-- This press release was published in 2002. The title says it all. Zogby is a professional survey organization, and has the clout to back up a real space tourism survey.
- Space Tourism Market Study-- Here it is! Well, sort of. This is the link to Futron's site for the space tourism market study. They tease us with tantalizing tidbits, but the real prize costs a few thousand dollars. Why? Because that is how marketing companies make their money. So, let's glean what we can.
Contests
Contests for space!
The X Prize is the first contest to promote space tourism. A $10 million prize will be awarded to the first privately funded group to fly 200 km altitude twice in two weeks carrying three people. The site includes a list of the contenders.
Organizations
Space Future is the definitive guide to all things related to space tourism. Travel, marketing, economics, technology, it is all here.
The Space Frontier Foundation is an activist group that is making a difference. From lobbying Congress to helping Dennis Tito become the first space tourist, the Foundation makes things happen.
LunaCorp seeks to send two rovers to the moon for both entertainment and scientific research. LunaCorp is also using its connections to help companies film TV commercials in space, and also helping Lance Bass finalize a deal to make him the third space tourist.
MIRCorp is a space marketing company that originally tried to buy the MIR space station, but is now working on diverse projects.
Space Adventures is the world's first space tourism company.
The Space Tourism Society is a Los Angeles-based international association of space tourism professionals.
XCOR has been flying a rocket-powered airplane for over a year. It won "Invention of the Year" by Time magazine in 2001. They are currently working on larger engines and looking for more funding.
Space Tourists
- http://www.spaceref.com/focuson/tito/
- http://www.house.gov/science/space/jun26/tito.htm
- http://www.energia.ru/english/energia/iss/soyuz-tm-32/tito.html
- http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,108699,00.html
- http://spaceflightnow.com/station/soyuz2s/010424titogo/
Various articles about Dennis Tito, former JPL engineer turned financial whiz who became the world's first paying space tourist (the three congressmen who flew on the shuttle don't count). Dennis flew in April of 2001, causing controversy and blowing open the doors to a new industry. Also included is the report he gave during his testimony to the US Congress.
Professionally done, this site covers the daily exploits of Mark Shuttleworth, a dot-com multimillionaire from South Africa who became the 2nd space tourist in April, 2002.
Coming soon! The Lance Bass in space web site. It will either be very good, or very trite. Also, an interesting article on whether Lance Bass is good for space tourism.
Space Tourism Survey Results
Check out the results of an informal survey conducted in 1999. Though by no means professional, it nontheless gives the perspective of many people interested in space travel. The personal comments are quite useful.
Application Form
Please fill out the interactive PDF form and email it to spaceman@mindspring.com
Brochure
This printable brochure gives you the basics of the club philosphy.
1999 Presentation
A bit dated, but this presentation discusses the club in detail.
Marketing to Generation X
A classic bit of being blinded by the dot com boom, here was an attempt to get a new generation of space people.