Has the Vision of Space Tourism Taken a Wrong Turn?

The recent Virgin Galactic flight, which sent Richard Branson and his cohort to the edge of space, has turned me introspective. I waited two decades to see my Uncle's space tourism dream become a reality, but instead of joy, I felt a sense of loss. That girl who grew up around the pure spirit of adventure has turned skeptical. I wanted to join in on the excitement and celebrate, but I couldn't get past the commercialism of it all.

During the mid-'90s, my Uncle, Burt Rutan, decided to create a privatized sub-orbital space tourism vehicle. By 2004 his craft achieved supersonic flight capable of carrying its pilot 62.5 miles from the earth's crust, crossing into the edge of space. Seventeen years later, a modified larger version of this same vehicle took a billionaire 53.4 miles above the earth's surface, just missing the Kármán line. The difference between these two flights is noticeable. While billionaire Paul Allen funded Burt's project, he stood in the background allowing those who solved the complexity of space to step forward. Unfortunately, the opposite took place with this recent flight.

When I was growing up, I saw my family of adventurers focusing on the challenge. They wanted to break the recorders set by those before them to push out the edges of the metaphorical envelope. There were no discussions of making a profit or self-promotion. Instead, when it came time to stand in the spotlight, they longed to get back to work. I admired their grassroots way of doing business, but I also understand that the spirit of adventure doesn't pay the bills. Instead, the deep pockets of billionaires do, especially when it comes to space exploration.

Watching Richard Branson float around Virgin Galactic's cabin Sunday morning, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't watching a milestone but a commercial. Of course, the marketer in me appreciates the details they went through to sell a space tourism experience. However, my younger self, who personally experienced the sacrifice many people went through for that moment to happen, wanted to hear a small acknowledgment of them at least.

Moving forward, I hope space tourism grows and evolves into improving life on earth for more than just a few, and may the sight of others experiencing weightlessness cause more young adults to pursue careers in aerospace. May their pursuits be thoughtful, so I can once again watch with wonder in my eyes instead of feeling a little foolish that I once trumpeted that space tourism is for everyone.

Photo - Adam Miller