Could Space Tourism Become Popular Among Honeymooners?
The concept of space tourism has been around for decades, but it has only recently become a reality. In 2001, Dennis Tito became the first private citizen to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), and since then, a handful of other wealthy individuals have followed suit.
Space tourism is defined as human space travel for recreational purposes. There are several different types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism.
Space tourism is still in its early stages, but it is expected to grow in popularity in the coming years. As the technology becomes more affordable and the risks are reduced, more and more people will be able to experience the thrill of space travel. And who knows, maybe some adventurous couples will start opting for a space honeymoon trip?!
Space travel and tourism will become more accessible as more companies, particularly those in the aviation industry, will offer services to bring people on sub-orbital flights. This was the assessment made by a senior high official of Dubai-based carrier Emirates during a one-off special flight in November 2023, celebrating the UAE’s space initiatives ahead of its 52nd National Day, and Sultan AlNeyadi’s successful return from a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where he conducted not only numerous scientific research, but also recorded the first spacewalk for the Arab world.
Space tourism, also called personal spaceflight or commercial human spaceflight, is flying at an altitude higher than 100 km above sea level that is called the Kármán line, or the conventional boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. At that altitude, passengers can experience weightlessness or near-zero gravity.
Space tourism is niche segment for the aviation industry, and according to some market research, the global space tourism industry is expected to grow from $851.7 million in 2024 to $5.19 billion by 2034.
The UAE is well positioned to actively promote space tourism, given the rapid development it has achieved in space exploration over the past few years. Watch the space!
