Interested in touring space? Your dreams may turn into reality sooner rather than later.
Recently, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Tripadvisor have teamed to up introduce something perhaps not many of us were expecting: “Destination: Space.” This is an initiative that was created to begin promoting space tourism and education surrounding it. As interest in space exploration continues to skyrocket, especially in light of companies such as SpaceX continuing to explore travel (and even colonization) on Mars.
“Destination: Space” was revealed at an event in 2024 in Las Vegas and was mostly attended by aerospace experts. The initiative offers knowledge and education for booking space-related experiences. It will allow customers to visit museums and rocket launch sites as well as offering information about space travel. AIAA Vice President Brain Talbot said, “With the launch of Destination: Space, Tripadvisor joins the emerging ecosystem of non-aerospace companies and new industries that now see space as an opportunity.”
AIAA and Tripadvisor aren’t the only companies attempting to make waves in the space travel industry. SpaceX also recently announced a new milestone in their efforts to commercialize space travel. The company recently made history by introducing its inaugural private spacewalk, which will allow billionaire Jared Isaacman to become the first individual into space for a “spacewalk”.
The mission for this endeavor (titled ‘Polaris Dawn’) was recently scheduled for July 31 but is now delayed to mid-August due to complications. The mission is being headed by Jared Isaacman, who previously embarked on a SpaceX rocket in 2021. These complications included rocket explosions — so perhaps the delay is understandable!
Whether or not ‘space tourism’ will become as normalized as domestic plane travel in our lifetimes remains debatable, but strides are attempted to be made by the world’s richest people to ensure that will be possible.
