Space Future - Papers & Publications

Welcome to Space Future. This site is for everyone who wants to go to space.

Learn about Space Tourism, see some of the proposed Space Vehicles, find out about the legal, medical, and environmental aspects of our Space Habitat, or discover the potential of Space Power.

Visit the Archive of papers and publications or browse the Space Future Journal for current news and features.

About Space Future

More Links

Papers & Publications : Tourism : Business

Published:	October 1998
Author:	David Ashford
Origin:	invited speech to EXPLOSPACE Workshop

Abstract:	Low cost access to orbit requires reusable launch vehicles with long life, short turn-around time and low maintenance cost. If maturity comparable with airliners can be achieved, the cost per person to orbit would be reduced to around 10,000 Euros, some 1000 times less expensive than the cost today. Aerospace history suggests that a technology matures some ten years after its first operational use. Prototype spaceplanes are now under development that could enter service in about five years. Thus it may be possible to achieve the 1000 times launch cost reduction within about fifteen years. This would require a large commercial demand in order to fund the continuous product improvement from prototype to maturity. Space tourism is the future use of space most likely to provide this commercial demand. Sub-orbital tourism flights could start in about seven years.
References:	Prelude to Space Travel A Development Strategy for Space Tourism Commercial Implications of Market Research on Space Tourism Demand for Space Tourism in America and Japan, and its Implications for Future Space Activities Comments on Certification Standards for New Reusable Launch Vehicles A Preliminary Feasibility Study of the Spacecab Low-Cost Spaceplane and of the Spacecab Demonstrator A French Concept for an Aerospace Transporter Space Tourism - the Key to the Universe? The Spacecab Demonstrator Project Journal of Practical Applications in Space Journal of Space Technology and Science General Public Space Travel and Tourism The Potential of Spaceplanes Aeronautical Journal Spaceflight Magazine Aviation Week and Space Technology Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
Referred to by:	Collaboration with Aviation - The Key to Commercialisation of Space Activities Space Tourism - The Key to Low Cost Access to Space Meeting the Needs of the New Millennium: Passenger Space Travel and World Economic Growth

Related Entries:	Ascender Bristol Spaceplanes Venture Star Spacecab X-33 X-34 RLV Kistler Aerospace Pioneer Rocketplane Kelly Space & Technology NASA European Space Agency Lockheed Martin Werhner Von Braun Space Transportation Association SSTO Spacebus Your Spaceflight Manual: How you could be a tourist in space within 20 years Patrick Collins Sanger Skylon Boeing Space Systems LOX LH2
Keywords:	Tourism:Business

Please send comments, critiques and queries to feedback@spacefuture.com.

All material copyright Space Future Consulting except as noted.