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Source-This post on Space tourism has been created based on the article “Gopi Thotakura becomes first Indian space tourist: What is space travel — and how much can a journey cost?” published in “The Indian Express” on 23 May 2024.
Why in News?
India-born aviator and commercial pilot Gopi Thotakura became the first space tourist from India. He is flying on the Blue Origin NS-25 mission.
About Space tourism
1. Space tourism is human space travel for recreational or leisure purposes. It is divided into different types which includes orbital, suborbital, and lunar space tourism.
2. Space tourism is also as a commercial activity related to space. It includes going to space as a tourist, watching a rocket launch, going stargazing, or travelling to a space-focused destination.
About Sub-Orbital Trips
1. Sub-Orbital Trips involves flights that cross the Karman line (about 100 km above Earth), the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, without entering orbit around Earth. Most space tourism flights are sub-orbital trips.
2. The spacecraft crosses the Karman line stays briefly in space, and then descends back to Earth.
Note: Anything flying below the Karman line is classified as an aircraft and above it is a spacecraft.
Scope of longer Space Journeys
1. Orbit and ISS Stays: Space tourists can orbit Earth and spend days on the International Space Station (ISS) at an altitude of about 400 km. Dennis Tito, in 2001, spent over seven days on the ISS.
2. Future Prospects: Space tourism can be extended to deeper space trips to the Moon, other planets, or asteroids.
UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology
