ECONOMIC PURPOSE CARD

Eco-Tourism In Space Earth. It is a science lab where many astronauts from many countries live and work together. Mr. Tito stayed for seven days, and he was the first “fee- paying” space tourist. The fee he paid was a hefty $20 million dollars! This may seem like a huge amount of

money, but a number of people since Would you like to spend your vacation Mr. Tito’s journey have paid that on the moon or on Mars? Eco-tourism amount or more to be a part of space’s in space may be the perfect trip for eco-tourism industry. you. If $20-40 million seems a little steep Ecotourism is a new way to travel. It for a week’s stay in space, there are means responsible travel to a place people willing to pay just $250,000 for that protects the environment. The a ride with Virgin Galactic, the world’s travel also helps the people in the first commercial spaceline. After three place. It often involves teaching or days of training at Spaceport America learning about the place visited. in New Mexico, the tourists have a 2 ½ hours ride above Earth’s atmosphere There is worldwide interest in in a no-gravity zone where they get traveling to space. A survey done by out of their seats and experience the Commercial Spaceflight weightlessness. Once back on Earth, Federation found that over 70% of the they celebrate with family and friends. people asked said they would want to spend 2 weeks in space, 88% wanted Yes, there is a great deal of interest in to walk in space, and 21% wanted to space tourism. But, there are still stay at a hotel or space station. many challenges. Scientists still need to find ways to meet the human need A number of Space Tourism of sufficient air, consistent companies are trying to bring space temperature, and a long exposure to travel for recreational purposes to the the lack of gravity. Safety public. Elon Musk, an inventor, is improvements in both launching and investing a great deal of money in landing must be made. Also, the making space travel an industry like industry needs to find ways to cut air travel. He even wants to setup down on costs. But, because there is dome cities on Mars. Imagine what such interest in this area of tourism, people might pay in order to competition should bring down costs experience such a learning adventure! and also create safer vehicles.

In fact, Dennis Tito a very wealthy Richard Attenborough, the president businessman visited the International of Virgin Galactic said recently, Space Station in 2001. The “Hopefully there will be a large, International Space Station is a large thriving, vibrant industry that will spacecraft that orbits around the make it possible for most people to go into space in my lifetime.”

Day 5 Student Handout 5.5