We’re entering an era of private-led space aviation. In the past, the only way to go to space was to be selected by the government and become an astronaut. Now, anyone with enough money can venture into space. The time when we can enjoy leisure activities while staying at a space station is just around the corner.
Space travel is becoming increasingly diverse. Considering the boundary between Earth and space is 62 miles, various options are available from affordable trips to the Kármán line to moon expeditions with stays at the International Space Station (ISS). Elon Musk’s SpaceX recently succeeded in a Mars spacecraft Starship test flight. It took four attempts for the test to succeed. Not only is Musk’s Mars City Construction becoming a reality, but the possibility of civilian moon exploration is also increasing.
Beyond interplanetary travel to the moon and Mars, interstellar travel, which refers to moving beyond our solar system to another star system, is also within the realm of possibility.
The issue is time. From the sun, the speed of light takes 4.3 years to reach the nearest star. Even at the speed of light, it would take over four years to travel to another star system. For interstellar travel to become a reality, we would need a spaceship faster than light, cryogenic humans, or long-term sleep technology.
NASA is currently developing a nuclear propulsion rocket that could significantly reduce the time it takes to travel in space. If a rocket powered by nuclear energy is developed, it is expected to reduce the travel time from Earth to Mars from approximately 8-9 months to about three months.
Created by the British billionaire Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic recently completed its seventh commercial space flight with four tourists onboard and announced plans to begin full commercial service in 2026.
In line with this, space hotels are also set to open. The American space development company Above Space has unveiled plans to complete a space hotel called Voyager Station by 2027.
The hotel is a weightless space station equipped with accommodations, a gym, a restaurant, and various other amenities. Guests can also enjoy an Earthview from the station.
Of course, space travel is still a matter of money. While the commercialization of space travel is imminent, it will take longer before it becomes a hobby that ordinary people can enjoy.
In 2022, three civilians participated in the first space station visit project led by a private company. They paid approximately $570 million for round-trip fares and spent roughly $34 million per night in space.