To the Moon, and Beyond: The Facts of Commercial Space Travel

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In the year In 2020, the billionaire space race was in full swing. Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are racing to send astronauts into low orbit for the first time. Each of the billionaires successfully launched at least once, and Bezos and Branson were passengers on their own business rocket ships. Commercial space travel was reaching new heights, and the momentum seemed unstoppable, at least for a while.

Since then, the consequences of the global corona virus pandemic have significantly changed our view of space travel: many are less interested in hearing about the latest design features of the celestial body, but are more concerned with domestic events happening here on Earth. Among them, the war in Ukraine and, as a byproduct, the recent news that Russia has left the International Space Station seem to push us further away from the final frontier.

However, in recent days, NASA’s desire to land on the moon with its Artemis mission has once again captured the imagination of the space travel public. Although NASA’s first test of the SLS rocket may not be launched any time soon, the second test is now scheduled for September 27.

Space travel
A view of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from launch pad 39B with the Orion spacecraft (Credit: NASA).

If commercial space travel to Earth orbit or the moon and beyond is eventually possible, there will still be huge challenges for individuals looking to buy their ticket to the final frontier. These are just a few of the issues we will be looking at in the coming decades.

Costs and resources

It’s easy to get excited about space travel and believe we’ll all be living the Jetsons lifestyle by the end of the decade. But space travel requires huge amounts of money, planning and resources. Even the ever-optimistic Elon Musk has set the minimum cost of space travel per flight at $10 million.

In an interview, Musk said that “SpaceX’s cost efficiency is the best in history” and that it was “designed to be completely reusable.” That means, according to Musk’s quick calculations, SpaceX’s cost is about 5-10% of the Saturn V project (the last rocket to send men to the moon).

Musk explained that sending rocket ships into low orbit requires significant planning and administrative approval. The Federal Aviation Administration must review the request for SpaceX space travel and consider environmental conditions and human benefits.

When SpaceX discovered the beach in Boca Chica, Texas, the company got a little clever about damaging the local ecosystem and displacing residents. As resident Mary McConaghy explained, “They’re here to stay and they want us to leave. Dealing with disgruntled locals may seem trivial compared to the boundless cosmos above us. However, not being able to cooperate with people here on Earth is a real obstacle that all astronauts must contend with.

International cooperation in space travel

A few years ago, space travel seemed like a beacon of hope for those who wanted to see nations work together instead of dividing. However, recent news that Russia is withdrawing from the space station project has dampened optimism and put a strain on cooperation plans.

Of course, international cooperation is not entirely necessary for space travel. Independent governmental organizations and billionaires can push us forward. However, a lack of international cooperation slows down the space race rather than accelerating it – scientists must protect space-related secrets rather than operate with open transparency.

The International Space Station appears to be decommissioning after 2024. In the meantime, collaboration will continue to prove necessary for the kinds of experiments and experiments needed to solve the realities of space travel. Even Russia, which positions itself as a global power, does not have the means to create its own space station.

International space station

Former ISS Commander Dr. Leeroy Chayo explains, “They [Russia] You don’t have the money to build their own station,” and without the ISS there would be no access to the space station. This cooperation will further strengthen the issues of space travel, as the European Space Agency has completed its cooperation with the Russian Roscosmos project.

In theory, things could get worse if cooperation turned into competition. Space travel can be vulnerable to cyberwarfare as nation-state actors exploit vulnerabilities. Government agencies and corporations must use AI to detect hackers and malicious activity in real time. AI-driven behavior detection should prevent bad actors from entering rocket ships and ensure passengers have a safe living and working environment in space.

Life in Space

When we think of space travel, most people think of floating in the hallways, eating a sloppy dinner and staring into space for hours. All of these activities point to a little-considered fact: life will be lonely in space.


Russian space station



Almost all astronauts describe their first trip to space as a life-changing experience. However, this does not mean that people who live and work above the surface of the earth do not fall into exhaustion. In the year The myth that astronauts at SkyLab went on strike in 1972 over demands to lighten their workloads has now been proven false. However, the story is an important reminder that burnout is real and can affect us all.

Providing professional social support can prevent loneliness and burnout. Social care specialists can help passengers and crew avoid excessive stress and pain by listening to the humanitarian issues faced by people in space. A little premeditated empathy can go a long way for those experiencing the enigmatic cosmos for the first time.

Of course, while mental stressors like isolation and confinement may require solutions like prescribed social time, there are also physical effects that come with living in space—and some of them are quite harmful. Space radiation means fit and structure need adequate protection to prevent cancer risks, long-term exposure to low gravity and weight loss can cause muscle and bone loss, as well as kidney stones. Fortunately, modern technology makes it easier for astronauts to track and solve these issues.

The road ahead

Significant obstacles still stand in the way of frequent, accessible space travel. As recent world events have shown, the costs associated with spaceflight can quickly become an issue, and international politics can hinder progress. Once the general public reaches space, they will need professional social support and sophisticated software to ensure their journey to the final frontier is as safe as possible.

With all this in mind, space travel is slowly becoming a reality for “the rest of us” – although this fact is reserved, for now, billionaire manufacturers of 21st century space technologies and equally wealthy travelers are willing to pay for it. High prices to tag along. Either way, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic have given many of us hope that one day we’ll be able to fly into low orbit, or perhaps far beyond our planet.

Adrian Johannes is a freelance writer whose work focuses on business, technology and marketing. She is particularly passionate about issues related to accessibility and sustainability. You can read more of her work on her website.

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