Civilian space travel

As, in recent years, we have seen well-heeled civilians go up into space for brief flights (including "Captain Kirk" himself), the insane flick "AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL"(now over 40 years old!) focused on the first civilian space shuttle flight to the Moon, which was already being colonized.

Back in the early 80's, of course, this seemed almost beyond science fiction, even in a comedy flick.

The Space Shuttle itself was still, at the time, quite hi-tech,stunning, and futuristic..

Today, in 2023, can anyone realistically expect to see civilian space travel become as commonplace as airline travel?

Rocket ships, satellites, space stations, and lunar landings, at one time, would have indeed been nothing more than the fanciful, imaginative writings of such science-fiction writers as the legendary H.G. Wells.

Today, it's all so commonplace.

IF, one day, regular civilian space travel were to become commonplace, one must also contemplate how Man, in so many ways, is rapidly destroying his home planet as I type these words.

Would the human race treat the Moon (or, for that matter, any planet) with respect to its environs, or, simply revert to his usual habit of trashing and abusing.

None of us, of course, can rightfully predict the future; however,it is still an interesting scenario to contemplate...........

 

Here are a few links of related interest...........

Space tourism - Wikipedia

Private spaceflight - Wikipedia

Commercial astronaut - Wikipedia

Space Shuttle - Wikipedia

 

Going a few miles down into the ocean in plastic submarines is all the rage at the moment.

 

Space tourism reminds me a lot of Antarctic tourism. Antarctica, too, was once seen as elusive except to the bravest and most well-equipped explorers, and now people go there on their holidays all the time. I anticipate space tourism following a similar trajectory over the course of the decade.

Scientists are also starting to sound the alarm on the environmental impact of Antarctic tourism. I wouldn't be shocked if space tourism would be plagued with the same problems, especially once we get advanced enough to visit habitable planets and introduce invasive Earth species to them.

For those curious about the environmental impact of Antarctic tourism: Antarctic Tourism Is Up, but Experts Give It a Thumbs Down | Hakai Magazine

 

I bet you didn't know who designed it for them.

 

When we think of other matters which were labeled 'gate' such as 'Watergate' did nobody in high places consider the name Oceangate might be ominous?
I mean, wasn't there a guy who worked for them and who blew the whistle but was ignored and so he published his report?!

 

This is the man responsible for it all. Roy Clarke was brought up in the Yorkshire dales, close to where this series was set. Last of the summer wine was written for the BBC and ran for 38 years. The cast became like a family, literally in one case. When Compo (played by Bill Owen) died and his son appeared in the series, the actor was Bill Owen's son in real life.
Thora Hird was one of the most famous actors to join the series in her later years and became famous for driving her car to take the wives on outings. She never looked where she was going, but it was not scripted. Her passengers were REALLY terrified. She missed most of the episodes in one series due to her declining health, but insisted, against medical advice to shoot the last episode. This time, she mounted the pavement and came to a stop against the wall. Although again not scripted, the cameras kept rolling as her terrified passengers had to climb out through the opposite door. Thora died a few days later.

Roy wrote on his own lifetime experiences, both in the army and his full time job as the village policeman. Christina (our daughter) sees the funny side of that one, saying that after almost every shift, she starts to think that the entire world is full of idiots.

Roys other famous series were, Keeping Up Appearances and Open All Hours.
Now aged 93, he still works from his home in the dales.

 

The closest exoplanet which even might be habitable is Proxima Centauri B, which is 4.2 light-years from Earth; approximately 24,690,120,000,000 miles. It would take about 6,300 years to get there.
Our technological society will be gone and forgotten long before we can ever develop the tech for interstellar travel.

None of which is to say that we shouldn't launch billionaires into space, just that with currently available technology it would be more practicable to target them towards the Sun, a mere 94.5 million miles away.

 

Good one!! I will go neither up nor down. My feet need to be planted firmly on terra firma.

 

A rich persons vanity and evidence that they are undertaxed.

 

Commercial space exploration is going in to the right direction(space x), seems more efficient and faster then NASA/goverment(future/science)............but shooting a bunch of idiots into space, because of bragging rights and making money *sigh*



Atm we cant even build a base on the moon while or have a decent spacestation(resources/jump of point/ect)......................while we already have the tech/science...............money/cost/resources/geopolitics..............ect ect.

Mzzls

 

Mzzls

 

Mzzls

 

Extreme mess in space. Called orbital debris. Needs adressing.

 

Website: Where Will Your Legal Education Take You?: Space Lawyer. And I heard on NPR that there are already space lawyers who practice internationally.

 

Might be more important to begin to care about this planet!

 

Deep space astronauts may be prone to erectile dysfunction, study finds
Might explain their obsession with who has the biggest rocket.