Features - QOTW: Is space tourism worth the risk?

[tigertop1]

Got to do it to find an alternative to Earth. We are well on the way to destroying the planet we now live on and one day it will be beyond saving

[Willzzz]

My thoughts are "meh".

Stuff crashes all the time, cars, planes, boats, the fact that it is a spaceship makes it even less surprising.

[RobbieRoy]

Yes, as it moves us along the path to the stars.

[kompukare]

Got to do it to find an alternative to Earth. We are well on the way to destroying the planet we now live on and one day it will be beyond saving

Human-Planet-Eating-Virus seeks new planet for careless misuse! Don't worry, we will more careful next time, honest!

[devBunny]

Some people have signed up to die fairly shortly after reaching Mars (or on the way, if they're very unlucky). The only people to really ask "Is it worth it?" of are the ones taking the risk.

But that's about trips whereas a question about whether space *tourism* is worth the risk is about an industry. The answer is then the commercially based "Yes, if there are enough people willing to accept the trip risks and pay for the privilege".

[Tabbykatze]

I think Space Tourism would be good solely for the fact it injects money and visibility into the area for R&D into faster, safer and further reaching spaceflight projects.

[crossy]

Look at the early aircraft......zeplins, the early planes etc.....compare them to what we have today.

You got to task risks to advance.

Couldn't agree more - and the way I see it, those rich-but-dumb folks are ploughing money into something that might eventually help on other commercial applications. For example, I remember someone suggesting that the Virgin "orbiter" could perhaps be used as a first stage to launching satellites into orbit at a lower cost than is the case at the moment.

Actually, it's a nice kick-back against the "risk averse" culture we're in today. I remember reading a quote from some grande dame in the US that went something like:
"my great grandmother upped stakes and took her entire family by covered wagon to settle the west. HER great grandmother loaded her family and possessions onto a sailing ship in Plymouth and did the two month journey to another continent. I, on the other hand, have second thoughts about crossing the road".

Was it just me or was the sixties just a heck of a lot more exciting (although I wasn't around for most of it) space-wise?

[davesom555]

Unfortunately, these are the risks that exist for the few pioneers in this field. It is worth it though - hopefully it will drive progress in finding new ways to access space, more efficient rocketry, etc.

Ultimately it will be worth it when space and resources on earth start to become scarce. Might be a way off, but you've got to start somewhere!