Introduction:
I know that many people are excited about the prospect of space tourism, but what does the future hold for this vast industry? Space tourism is one of the most popular and well-established industries right now. Will it become popular in the future?
Space tourism is still a dream for many of us and it's not likely to become a reality soon. But there are people who are ready to go into space, now — and some of them have already experienced life in orbit.
Will space tourism become popular?
Space tourism will become popular if there are enough private investors, which is unlikely in the near future.
In order to make space tourism a reality, you need two things: a space vehicle that can travel into deep space and provide passengers with a unique experience, and a destination within or beyond Earth's orbit where tourists can go.
The first problem is solved by the private sector. SpaceX has already launched its Falcon Heavy rocket and Dragon capsule, which can carry cargo and people into deep space for about six months at a time. NASA's Orion spacecraft, scheduled to be launched in 2021 with humans on board, will carry people deeper into space than any other human-made object has ever gone. Both vehicles have been tested successfully in Earth orbit and have demonstrated that they can carry large payloads into orbit (over 13 tons for Falcon Heavy).
The second problem is solved by developing ways of getting astronauts to Mars safely and quickly enough so that they don't have to spend too much time in low-gravity environments like those found on the International Space Station or aboard Russian Soyuz capsules. This could happen through technologies such as electric propulsion or self-sustaining habitats like those under development by Bigelow Aerospace.
I don't think space tourism will be popular. There are a few potential benefits, but all of them come at a steep cost, and none are likely to outweigh the risks of being exposed to a harsh environment outside a spacecraft.
The first benefit is that it would give people something else to do in space besides just orbiting Earth. If you're stuck on a long-term mission, you need something to keep your mind occupied; that's why astronauts have books, chess games, and other things to do. But there's only so much you can do with an iPad or Kindle reader once your batteries run out and you have nothing else to do but stare at the stars. A tourist program could provide something more interesting than just watching Earth go by.
But there's also the issue of safety. Space tourism is still very dangerous, even if it doesn't involve blasting off into space. The main danger is that there's no way to know how your body will react to being exposed to microgravity for extended periods of time — and prolonged exposure can cause serious health problems such as bone loss and muscle atrophy (which may eventually lead to death). Even short-term excursions outside your spacecraft could be dangerous if you're not properly prepared for them.
Conclusion:
Space tourism is still a very small industry, but as more companies invest in private space travel, and we continue to see amazing technological developments, I think it's fairly safe to say that space tourism will become a much more popular industry.
In sum, space tourism may become more popular with the rapid development of space technology and cheaper ticket prices for space-bound passengers. Whether or not it truly becomes a viable business is another question. At this point, only the future can tell.