News
Space holidays "feasible by 2050"
28 March 2006
A study into the future of tourism has found that space holidays could be feasible by 2050.
The World Travel 2050 report says that a weeklong holiday in an orbital space station could come at a price tag of £575,000.
The thinktank the Centre for Future Studies states that such a high price tag could be affordable by 2050 as the average house price would be £2 million.
With the price for future space travel being 29 per cent of the price of a 2050 home, it would be the equivalent of £54,793 in today's prices.
The report also highlights technological advances that would allow faster travel around the world and tourist astronauts, or touronauts as they have been dubbed, should be able to reach the space station in three and a half hours.
Mike Ketteringham, of Churchill Insurance, which was also behind the report, said: "The world has always been intrigued by the concept of space travel and on-going technological advances mean there will be new possibilities for discerning travellers in 2050 and beyond."
He added: "Although there are currently people planning to pay $200,000 for a sub-orbital space flight in 2008, we are looking further afield to a time where holidays to orbital space hotels are possible.
"A holiday at a research station with hotel facilities won't be about luxury or high-tech accommodation, but will give people the opportunity to be one of the first people in the world to spend time in space."
© Adfero Ltd
The World Travel 2050 report says that a weeklong holiday in an orbital space station could come at a price tag of £575,000.
The thinktank the Centre for Future Studies states that such a high price tag could be affordable by 2050 as the average house price would be £2 million.
With the price for future space travel being 29 per cent of the price of a 2050 home, it would be the equivalent of £54,793 in today's prices.
The report also highlights technological advances that would allow faster travel around the world and tourist astronauts, or touronauts as they have been dubbed, should be able to reach the space station in three and a half hours.
Mike Ketteringham, of Churchill Insurance, which was also behind the report, said: "The world has always been intrigued by the concept of space travel and on-going technological advances mean there will be new possibilities for discerning travellers in 2050 and beyond."
He added: "Although there are currently people planning to pay $200,000 for a sub-orbital space flight in 2008, we are looking further afield to a time where holidays to orbital space hotels are possible.
"A holiday at a research station with hotel facilities won't be about luxury or high-tech accommodation, but will give people the opportunity to be one of the first people in the world to spend time in space."
© Adfero Ltd
