There is a growing trend where a number of individuals claim that space tourism is achievable, as traveling in space has been relevant for some time. While this can pose formidable challenges for the government’s economy, I personally regard this as predominantly advantageous, especially with regard to the positive effect on the environment and long-term financial benefits.
One concern associated with space-related business is financial problems. Since manufacturing ships suitable for space exploration requires a substantial amount of resources and time, prioritizing such projects may potentially lead to financial strain for the country and, in some cases, even result in economic instability. A perfect case in point would be the USA, where over the past decade its highly demanding space travel projects have weakened the country’s economy and lowered the standards of living among citizens, as a result placing the authorities in debt.
Despite these drawbacks, I firmly believe that prioritizing space tourism can generate more substantial benefits, one of which is ecological sustainability. Focusing on commercial space travel is less harmful to the environment compared to businesses such as the extraction of oil or wood, which pose a direct threat to the ecology, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability. This is exemplified by recent research in China, which highlights that space-related businesses have contributed the least to the degradation of land in its territory.
Beyond this, its advantages extend to long-term economic benefits. Although space travel is considered a highly demanding project, after its success, space tourism is projected to attract a number of wealthy individuals worldwide; therefore, this can play a fundamental role in increasing government funds. A prime example is Norway, where a project called “space hotels,” despite remaining unfinished, has raised millions of dollars over several years.
In conclusion, prioritizing commercial space travel may be challenging because it requires a considerable amount of resources. I am more convinced that its merits, namely the positive effect on the environment and long-term economic benefits, substantially outweigh the drawbacks.