Journeys to the stars have long since left the realm of science fiction. While in previous decades only specially trained astronauts have got to enjoy the thrill of weightlessness in orbit, the demand from private individuals is growing. A new line of business is taking shape – space tourism.
Until now this experience has been reserved to a very small class of people with the influence and assets to match: Celebrities such as Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos for example have already had the chance to spend a few minutes in space, getting to experience the feeling of weightlessness and a spectacular view. But there is talk that in the future the broader public will also get this opportunity.
It may sound exciting at first, but there is a flipside: Legal and medical issues are casting major shadows on the dazzling image of this enterprise. This article highlights the most important elements of this new market for travel and shows why space tourism is more than just an adventure – it is a challenge for the law, for health and for society.
Space as a luxury
In recent years private companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have received increasing attention. Their goal is to offer commercial spaceflights to private customers. The market is growing, even if the tickets prices are still astronomically high. In 2022 a single ticket for a trip with the company SpaceX cost a tidy sum of EUR 55 million.
That covers far from just the experience of the flight. There are also training camps, luxury wellness facilities, gourmet restaurants and exclusive accommodation. In short, this is a business worth billions catering to those who are willing to spend a small fortune. Estimates are that the market value could reach USD 600 billion by 2030.
However, it is expected that in the long term, this experience will not be reserved to the super-wealthy. New technologies such as specially designed balloons are expected to make trips to space affordable for a broader clientele. A ticket price of "only" EUR 46,000 would still make it a luxury, but a considerably cheaper one. However, passengers on this kind of trip will not get to experience weightlessness since they will not be flying as high. The main thing they can expect instead is a spectacular view of the curvature of the Earth, the so-called "overview effect".
But space travel visionaries' ideas do not stop there: They say that in the future whole hotels will be built in space in keeping with the theme of space tourism. The plan is for stations floating through space like a kind of cruise ship and offering exclusive stays for paying guests. Whether such visions will ever become reality remains to be seen and has so far been met with scepticism – but these proclamations show just how bold the imagination of the sector already is.
Is space a health risk?
The feeling of weightlessness comes at a price. It exerts an enormous strain on the human body, primarily on its bones and musculature. Muscles atrophy because they are barely used and bones begin to deteriorate – a process that also occurs in old age but when it does, takes longer and starts later.
Then there is cosmic radiation. This is very dangerous to humans and a spacecraft can only provide incomplete shielding from it. The consequence is an increased risk of cancer. That is why astronauts undergo intensive training for months to counteract these processes. Private individuals who travel to space for just a few minutes are also exposed to this risk but have not gone through the same preparations. This means that space tourism is still an experimental area in medicine requiring further research to avoid damage to people's health and to minimise liability risks. This is a real challenge for space travel companies.
Liability and legal certainty
While technical progress is driving space tourism forwards, the process of developing and adjusting the legal framework is lagging behind. The current international legal situation is based on agreements such as the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which primarily regulates states, not private companies and tourists. Specific rules for commercial activities in particular are lacking.
Creating, establishing and, above all, enforcing clear legal requirements will take some time. Until then, entities operating in space will often be working in a legal grey area. Issues of liability are particularly problematic: Who is liable if something goes wrong on a commercial flight? To what extent are exclusions of liability admissible? Who bears responsibility for rescue efforts or cleaning up space junk? What might the allocation of responsibility be tied to? Could it depend for example on the territory from which the spaceflights launch or the flag carried by the ship like in maritime travel?
Space tourism: Environmental harm
One aspect that is often overlooked in discussions about space tourism is the carbon footprint of such flights. Many rockets run on liquid propellants – mostly hydrogen and oxygen – meaning that they appear to be more environmentally friendly than aircraft powered by conventional jet fuel. Nevertheless, both the production of these propellants and the construction of the rockets themselves consume enormous amounts of energy.
Things are particularly problematic when jet fuel is used. This causes the greenhouse gas CO₂ to be emitted from the rocket directly into the upper atmosphere, where it can remain for up to 120 years as it takes effect. For comparison, one spaceflight produces the equivalent in emissions of around 150 long-distance flights. Because the industry is growing and more and more companies are entering the market, climate pollution is increasing too. What is more, there are hardly any clear rules or binding environmental standards for private spaceflight to date.
Looking ahead – and looking up
The more that expansion into space progresses, the greater need there is for comprehensive regulation. Legislators are faced with the task of establishing an adequate legal framework, both nationally and internationally, to ensure safety, liability and environmental protection. With its draft Space Act, the EU has taken a first step towards supporting commercialisation while also minimising risks.
Ultimately space tourism poses fundamental questions for society: Who is allowed to go to space? How can the risks be shared fairly? And how do we protect both humans in space and the environment? The answers to these questions will shape the future of this exciting subject for regulation.
