Written by Mercedes Nebroski
The world watches as the countdown begins, holding a collective breath. The rockets fire with a white-hot blast amid a thundering haze of smoke, the shuttle defying gravity as it leaps into the air. Millions of necks crane and eyes turn upward, following the ship’s plumed path, imagining the new horizons waiting to be discovered.
For most Americans, the US space program instantly brings to mind NASA; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Established in July 1958 as a response to the Soviet Union’s launch of the Sputnik I satellite, NASA is a government organization responsible for managing America’s projects and activities in space. NASA’s historic accomplishments include the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper belt, and assisting in construction of the International Space Station.
While it is undeniable that NASA has played a storied part in creating many of humanity’s greatest accomplishments, there is a growing current of interest in the privatization of space travel, especially among a small circle of eccentric billionaires, a group that counts Elon Musk and Richard Branson among its ranks. In addition to managing their primary companies (Tesla and Virgin, respectively), both of these men have founded companies dedicated to the future of space travel.
Musk summarized the mission of SpaceX by saying, “We want to open up space for humanity, and in order to do that, space must be affordable.” The same sentiment is echoed by Branson. These billionaires want to develop the infant field of space tourism, creating programs in space that are affordable, accessible, and fun. These entrepreneurs are eager to help customers fulfill their childhood dreams of visiting the stars, spreading a captivating message of space tourism to the masses.
While the vision touted by these celebrity magnates is one of promise and optimism, the wheels are turning slowly. The companies’ purpose statements are quick to describe the tantalizing array of possibilities space opens up, from powerful rocket technology to an economical space access infrastructure; even a futuristic utopia of millions of people living and working in space. However, the current landscape of space tourism and commercialization bears little resemblance to the advertised experiences. Even though these companies like to give the impression of throwing open doors to space previously reserved for an elite few astronauts, the present status of space tourism remains highly theoretical.
After navigating deeper into the websites of companies like Virgin Galactic, it soon becomes clear that the advertised offerings don’t actually guarantee a seat on the ship. Instead of a ticket into orbit, consumers are presented with enlistment options into early reservation systems and astronaut waiting programs. While no companies have finalized launch dates or arrangements, what isn’t up for question is the hefty ticket price. Virgin Galactic’s initial payment to join a priority group of interested customers is one thousand dollars, while the stated price for a space visit is a cool quarter of a million dollars.
Even though the potential for privatized spaceflight is blossoming with promise, spaceships can’t run on optimism alone. Virgin Galactic, despite over 600 people joining their community of Future Astronauts, has yet to begin commercial operations, and has only sent five people to space on two test flights. While SpaceX is in a similar position regarding tourist launches, it has made important progress in the fusing of privatized and governmental space functions, recently making history as the first private company to send humans to space. The May 2020 launch successfully carried a crew of two American astronauts aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon rocket to the ISS, where they are currently living and working for at least 210 days. Instead of sightseeing in space, it is SpaceX’s arrangements with NASA regarding satellite launches and routine ISS transportation that fuel SpaceX’s profits to date.
NASA’s first-ever partnership with a private company such as SpaceX is a component of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, a major step in the gradual privatization of space travel. Established in 2011, the CCP’s goal is to cultivate private companies’ proficiency in US spaceflight actions, particularly in launching humans into low-Earth orbit and transporting them to and from the ISS. By transferring routine space operations into the realm of private companies, NASA can concentrate its focus primarily on deep-space missions and spacecraft construction. This switch of basic space operations to a model more independent of the government is a radical step in American spaceflight. With current investment in multiple companies, including SpaceX and Boeing, the CCP is helping to redefine the image of space travel as a symbiotic endeavor between the industry and government sectors.
The privatization of space travel has exciting potential to open the heavens and revolutionize the tourism industry. While it is easy to get lost in the flashy graphics and community of ready travelers, space tourism, at least as imagined in sci-fi movies, has not arrived yet. However, the countdown has begun, and the world must buckle up as we approach the unprecedented territory of a second Space Age.
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