Out of this world

For those tourists who have visited every continent, or even every country, space has become the new destination.

US-based Space Adventure is now offering a lunar expedition for $100 million per person.

‘Experience the majesty and wonder of earthrise,’ and ‘explore and experience the far side of the moon,’ says the company’s website, as if the prospect of a rocket trip around the moon is barely more extraordinary than a sunset cruise on the Nile.

‘Experience the majesty and wonder of earthrise,’ and ‘explore and experience the far side of the moon,’ says the company’s website, as if the prospect of a rocket trip around the moon is barely more extraordinary than a sunset cruise on the Nile.

Meanwhile, the British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has set up Virgin Galactic, which plans to offer sub-orbital space travel on a commercial basis.

Meanwhile, the British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has set up Virgin Galactic, which plans to offer sub-orbital space travel on a commercial basis.

For $200,000, any member of the paying public will be able to join five other passengers on SpaceShip Two for a two-hour long flight reaching an altitude of 110 km.

Passengers will be able to leave their seats and float in zero gravity for up to 6 minutes and, according to the press factsheet ‘enjoy a view of space and Earth stretching for around 160 km in every direction.’

Branson promotes space tourism as a means to save the planet.

At the company’s press launch, he spoke of the ‘transforming effect’ a space flight will have on the thousands who would travel with the company.

At the company’s press launch, he spoke of the ‘transforming effect’ a space flight will have on the thousands who would travel with the company.

‘Seeing the planet from out there, surrounded by the incredibly thin layer of atmosphere, helps one to appreciate the fragility of the small portion of the planet’s mass that we inhabit and the importance of protecting the Earth.

‘Seeing the planet from out there, surrounded by the incredibly thin layer of atmosphere, helps one to appreciate the fragility of the small portion of the planet’s mass that we inhabit and the importance of protecting the Earth.

‘Seeing the planet from out there, surrounded by the incredibly thin layer of atmosphere, helps one to appreciate the fragility of the small portion of the planet’s mass that we inhabit and the importance of protecting the Earth.

Virgin Galactic has calculated the carbon emissions for a space flight as being ‘approximately 60 per cent of a per passenger return commercial London-New York flight,’ which equates to 1.5 tonnes of CO2.

Virgin Galactic has calculated the carbon emissions for a space flight as being ‘approximately 60 per cent of a per passenger return commercial London-New York flight,’ which equates to 1.5 tonnes of CO2.

Per Egstam, Managing Director of Tricorona Climate Partner, a major participant in the international carbon market, says with some understatement that 1.5 tonnes ‘seems low for taking someone into space.’

But Branson insists that Virgin Galactic will be a force for good for the environment.

A reusable spacecraft and unpowered re-entry and landing are two ‘environmental credentials’ listed.

In addition, the company has just announced that the spacecraft will be used to facilitate investigations into climate change by carrying research instruments for the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In addition, the company has just announced that the spacecraft will be used to facilitate investigations into climate change by carrying research instruments for the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It was that view from space that helped me see the Earth as a quasi-living entity that regulates its own composition and climate,’ says the scientist best known for formulating the controversial ‘Gaia theory’.

It was that view from space that helped me see the Earth as a quasi-living entity that regulates its own composition and climate,’ says the scientist best known for formulating the controversial ‘Gaia theory’.

It was that view from space that helped me see the Earth as a quasi-living entity that regulates its own composition and climate,’ says the scientist best known for formulating the controversial ‘Gaia theory’.

In Lovelock’s view, space tourism is a valid scientific experiment that could play a part in the development of relatively low-emitting ‘coasting flights’ to the other side of the world, ultimately replacing the present generation of jumbo jets.

In Lovelock’s view, space tourism is a valid scientific experiment that could play a part in the development of relatively low-emitting ‘coasting flights’ to the other side of the world, ultimately replacing the present generation of jumbo jets.

According to psychologist and travel specialist Professor Robert Bor of London’s Free Hospital, ‘Travel gives us a perspective on our place and size in the world, how and where we fit in with others,’ he says.

He attributes the attraction of space travel to dissatisfaction with more simple pleasures.

If we look at modern life, there is a drive to constantly work harder, to excel and to be super-successful.

‘Ordinary’ and ‘comfortable’ may be too mundane.

Will high-spending amateur astronauts come back down to Earth transformed and inspired to save our fragile planet?

Maybe a CEO2 will cancel a logging concession?

Paul Miles, the Ecologist