A Development Strategy For Space Tourism*

D. M. Ashford. (1997), JBIS, 50, pp.59-66

Refcode: 1997.50.59

Abstract:

Space tourism is defined for present purposes as fare-paying members of the general public visiting low Earth orbit for leisure, entertainment and education. Space tourism has reached the status of preliminary feasibility study. The first paper to describe the important aspects of space tourism, to propose realistic technical solutions and to estimate costs was far-sighted when written in 1967. The first serious book on the subject was published in 1990. This gives a general description of a way ahead for space tourism and covers such aspects as health, safety, passenger training, the experience of a space holiday, as well as the basic engineering and cost aspects. This paper covers work done since then on how to get a space tourism industry started.