In the past, space travel was reserved for governments and those very well financially stable corporate entities. But now, with the various space tourism programs that a number of private companies have developed, anyone can potentially become a space tourist. Ideally, if you have money, there are several ways you can go about obtaining your space tourism ticket – including trying your luck with a minimum deposit casino to raise the money. And yes, it is more than likely going to be a one-time-only experience, so you’d better make it count.
Here are your five space tourist ticket options below.
- Pay for your ticket.
- Become a co-founder of your own space tourism company.
- Invest money in existing space tourist companies.
- Invest time in existing space tourist companies.
- Work as a space flight controller.
Paying for Your Own Ticket
This is a risky option since you will need to save an estimated 30 million USD or even more (just for lift-off). However, if everything goes according to plan and your space Travel Company becomes successful in its project (which also comes with some risks), this could potentially be the cheapest option out there. The only problem is that if things don’t go well, then you’re pretty much on your own in outer space.
Becoming a Co-founder of Your Own Space Tourism Company
This is more of an ideal choice. Either you can look into the possibility of investing some money into an already established space tourism company, or you could even become a co-founder yourself and try to start one. If you decide to do it, then make sure you have enough resources (time, energy, knowledge) for this kind of investment because it’s not like starting any regular business. If things start falling apart, at least there are other people around to help out.
Investing Money in Existing Space Tourist Companies
There are numerous “space travel companies” currently on the market with various project proposals ranging from suborbital flights to Mars to lunar missions and beyond. Since space tourism is still a very risky business, most companies are looking for investors with enough money to provide an initial investment. The minimum number of people required per company can range from 2-10, so you might need some friends if the funding goal is too high.
Investing Time in Existing Space Tourist Companies
This option differs from the third option in our list since you invest time (hours) instead of investing money. If you find yourself working with companies like SpaceX or Virgin Galactic, then maybe after time has gone by, one of the senior officials would be interested in giving up their seat (if they think it’s worth it).
Work as a Space Flight Controller
If you don’t have money or time, the only option is to work as a spacecraft ground controller at NASA – JSC (Johnson Space Center). Although this may not be as exciting as going into space personally, just knowing that someday soon we could finally colonize Mars and that you had the possibility of playing a part in that is the reason enough for most people. Having said that, NASA does employ various spacecraft controllers, and maybe they’re willing to put your name down once there’s an opening.
So yes, these are pretty much all of the options available for someone determined enough to make it into space (in one way or another). As mentioned above, some options will require less money than others, whereas other options take more time. There’s also always the option of doing all six ways, but that could definitely take its toll on your bank account and energy levels, especially if you’re planning on doing them consecutively without taking any breaks.
What are 9 Things You Need in Outer Space?
Now, while you might be able to get away with only having the bare minimum essential equipment/tools for your specific sub-space tourism company, more likely than not, you’ll need to go way above and beyond that.
So here are seven things that you will definitely want (and need) to survive comfortably during long space travel:
- Sufficient Water Supply
- A Space Suit
- Oxygen Supplies
- A Working Sump Pump
- A Working Toilet
- Proper Air Circulation
- Food Supply
- Emergency Escape Pod
- A Working Antenna/Two-Way Radio
Sufficient water supply. You must have a sufficient amount of drinking water available at all times throughout your travels. You can’t just take a few sips here or there because it will make you very thirsty and dehydrated fast, so instead, try thinking about how many litres of water would last you the entire trip without having to resort to recycling urine.
A space suit. It is a no-brainer, but you need an actual spacesuit; otherwise, you’re going to have a very bad time during your travels. You can get all sorts of different spacesuits designed for various types of specific tasks, so it’s best not to just go with a simple cotton T-shirt and some boxers.
Oxygen supplies. You also need oxygen to survive, but you can get by just fine if the air is recycled at least 20-40% oxygen within your spaceship. This will be enough to last you for a few hours, so obviously, try thinking about ways to have proper air filtration or even a mini oxygen tank for longer trips.
A working sump pump. Water will not stay in one place without any gravity holding it down. So if there happens to be a leak somewhere on your ship, then either forget about using a sponge/rag/paper towel to dry up the floor, or else all of that hard work will literally go down the drain. Just remember that sump pumps are essential tools when it comes to keeping the ship dry.
A working toilet. This piece of equipment is more important for your overall health than you might think. At the very least, try getting one with a basic gravity-based flush system for continuous space travel; otherwise, things are going to get stinky fast.
Proper air circulation. You must make sure that enough fresh air is circulated around the spaceship, especially if you deal with recycled oxygen. One way to do this is by installing an air purifier in every room of your spacecraft. Still, it would be best to know someone with an actual chemistry degree who can help design/manufacture some sort of ionized clean air generator or ionizing device.
Food supply. Speaking about food, make sure that there are enough food and water supplies for the number of people on board. Don’t forget about the extra emergency rations in case something goes wrong.
Emergency escape pod. This is a no-brainer, but you need an escape pod in case things go south and your ship begins to malfunction, or else you’re going to be trapped inside until help arrives.
A working antenna/a two-way radio. Sure, you can always just call up whoever it is that sent your ship into space when you get lost, but what if they’re not even able to pick up your signal? That’s why it’s essential to have a working antenna or a two-way radio so that someone can come and rescue you before it’s too late. To add to all that, you may also want to get free pokies to keep playing (that’s if it will be possible to do so in space).
Conclusion
So now that you have a better idea of what you can do to go into space and what you need to have there. The only thing left to do is to start making your dreams into reality. Good luck!