Abstract
This paper discusses the future of commercial passenger space transportation from multiple viewpoints — technical, financial, organisational and political — as well as economic policy, legal and social considerations. It argues that passenger space travel offers the opportunity for launch services to grow into a profitable commercial industry, with potential to grow to a very large scale, like passenger air travel. However, addressing this new market requires collaboration between space and aviation interests — which the space industry has resisted to date. At a time of record levels of unemployment in many countries both rich and poor, it is both economically and socially desirable that this resistance is overcome and this popular new service be developed as soon as possible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bekey, I: Economically Viable Public Space Travel, Proceedings of 49th International Astronautical Federation Congress, 1998, also downloadable from <http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/economically_viable_public_space_traveI.shtml/archive/economically_viable_public_space_traveI.shtml>.
Collins, P et al: Demand for Space Tourism in America and Japan, and its Implications for Future Space Activities, Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 91, pp. 601–610, 1996, also downloadable from <http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/demand_for_space_tourism_in_america_and_japan.shtml/archive/demand_for_space_tourism_in_america_and_japan.shtml>.
Collins, P: The Space Tourism Industry in 2030, Proceedings of Space 2000, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 594–603, 2000, also downloadable from <http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/the_space_tourism_industry_in_2030.shtml/archive/the_space_tourism_industry_in_2030.shtml>.
Smith, P: Reliability and Space Transportation, Space News, Vol. 10, No. 30, p. 15, 1999.
Smith, P: Concept of Operations for the National Airspace 2005, Federal Aviation Administration, 1999, also downloadable from <http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/concept_of_operations_in_the_national_airspace_system_in_2005.shtml/archive/concept_of_operations_in_the_national_airspace_system_in_2005.shtml>.
Anon, DRAFT Interim Safety Guidance for Reusable Launch Vehicles, Federal Aviation Administration, 1999
Collins, P & Funatsu, Y: Collaboration with Aviation — The Key to Commercialisation of Space Activities, Proceedings of 50th International Astronautical Federation Congress, 1999, also downloadable from: <http://www.spacefuture.com/arciwrcialisation_of_space_activities.shtml/arciwrcialisation_of_space_activities.shtml>.
Margo, R: Aspects of Insurance in Aviation Finance, Journal of Air Law and Commerce, Vol. 62, pp. 423–477, 1996
Rogers, T: Presentation to Year 2000 FAA Space Transportation Conference, Federal Aviation Administration, Arlington, VA, February 8, 2000
O’Neil, D et al: General Public Space Travel and Tourism — Vol. 1, Executive Summary, NP-1998-03-11-MSFC, National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Space Transportation Association, 1998, also downloadable from: <http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/generaLpublic_space_traveLand_tourism.shtml/archive/generaLpublic_space_traveLand_tourism.shtml>.
Collins, P: Space Activities, Space Tourism and Economic Growth, Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on Space Travel, Bremen, 1999, also downloadable from: <http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/space_activities_space_tourism_and_economic_growth.shtml/archive/space_activities_space_tourism_and_economic_growth.shtml>.
Kuttner, R: Yes, Virginia, There Is a Speculative Bubble, Business Week, No. 3661–991, p. 12, April 17, 2000
Collins, P & Yonemoto, K: Legal and Regulatory Issues for Passenger Space Travel, Proceedings of 49th International Astronautical Federation Congress, 1998, also downloadable from: <http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/legal_and_regulatory_issues_for_passenger_space_travel.shtml/archive/legal_and_regulatory_issues_for_passenger_space_travel.shtml>.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Collins, P. (2000). The Coming Commercial Passenger Space Transportation Market. In: Rycroft, M. (eds) The Space Transportation Market: Evolution or Revolution?. Space Studies, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0894-5_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0894-5_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-3810-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-010-0894-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive