From space heroes to space tourists
- Paper number
IAC-06-E3.4.05
- Author
Dr. Jacques Arnould, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Keeping the dream alive? Isn’t tourism more a vector, in the pathological sense of the word, of a vision that has very little in common with a historical perspective of space? Rather than the heroic exploits of space explorers, are we not set to be engulfed by a tide of crassness and debasement, venality and the simply mundane? A comparison with aviation and the history of how it was commercialized—and popularized—gives pause for thought. Where are the new Wright Brothers, Blériots and Lindbergs of today? When we think about it, the air is a restricted domain, whereas space offers a vast realm to explore. As an astronaut once admitted: “Initially, I was implacably opposed to space tourism as a threat to our privileged status; then I realized that space tourists would simply spur us to seek out new frontiers.”
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E3.4.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.