In one of the interviews Astronaut Don Thomas answering the question “Do you think space is the future of travel?” noted that we are approaching the era of space tourism and there will be an endless number of people who want to look at the earth from the porthole of the space station. Have you ever dreamed of going into space? I’m sure you have, let’s take a look at how innovations have made it easier and closer for unprepared citizens to go into space.
There are several technologies that enable space travel. However, to take advantage of them you will need significant funding and access to specialized resources.
It is already possible to take advantage of options such as:
Space rockets: nowadays, almost all space travel is accomplished using rocket engines. There are commercial companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, etc. that are developing reusable rockets to carry cargo and people into space.
Spaceships: spaceships are used to travel in space and are capable of providing life support to the crew throughout the journey. For example, NASA is developing the Orion spacecraft, designed for space missions to the far reaches of the solar system.
Interplanetary probes: Interplanetary probes are automated missions that explore other planets and space objects. For example, the Mars Rover and Cassini-Huygens probes have already conducted many explorations on Mars and Saturn, respectively.
However, if you expect more affordable and mass space travel, you can expect the following technological developments in the future:
Space Elevators: The space elevator concept involves the use of a ground station and a cable that can carry special capsules to geostationary orbit. This would significantly reduce the cost of transporting cargo and, perhaps in the long term, people into space.
Interplanetary flights: As technology for Mars exploration advances, interplanetary flights will become more commonplace. Companies like SpaceX plan to send humans to Mars in the coming decades.
Overall, the future of space travel promises greater access and opportunities for humans to explore and master space. However, this will of course take time, further technological breakthroughs and investment.
The following are the benefits of using VR in this area:
- Affordability. Space tourism is very expensive and not many people can afford such a trip. VR can provide an alternative to space tourism and reduce the cost of a trip to space by allowing people to experience the sensation of being in space in virtual reality
- Safety. Space tourism involves certain risks, including a high probability of equipment failure and unexpected emergencies. VR can provide a safe alternative to space tourism by allowing people to experience the sensation of being in space in a safe virtual environment.
- Realism. VR can be used to create virtual tours of space that are as close to reality as possible. This will allow people to experience the sensation of being in space without leaving the ground and to see space objects from the inside.
Thus, in general, modern technology is opening a new era in space tourism, providing mankind with a unique opportunity to look at the earth from the side of the universe. Thus, with the development of commercial space companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, we have seen impressive progress in space tourism. However, it is worth remembering that achieving this goal requires constant technological development, innovation and investment.
