Space tourism: New frontier for the rich
The achievements and creativity of humanity have multiplied and reached all horizons in order to realize its dreams and aspirations. Ambitious tourism projects found vast horizons to be explored and conquered. They have exploited intellectual and financial capacities to realise the dreams of competitive human beings, particularly the rich who are in search of prestige and demand comfort and leisure. Why not?God endowed human beings with reason, intellectual abilities, and financial wealth and allowed them to benefit from what he placed at their disposal. Thus, God says in the Koran: “But the bounty of the Lord-Rehearse and proclaim” (Al-Dhuha/11). I will talk about the tourism of the rich who represent no more than 1% of the population of the world, by enumerating the types of tourism respectful of human and Islamic values. These rich people are aspiring for rest and pleasure through buying villas and apartments in the tourist zones of the world, perhaps in more than one place, spending millions of dollars, so, time permitting, they can go there on vacation. They also stay in the suites of the most luxurious hotels. These hotels go to extremes to provide luxurious comfort and services with exorbitant prices of thousands of dollars a night. They also choose the finest restaurants with splendid surroundings in an enchanting environment. These establishments work on the principle that less is more valuable and offer a variety of smaller dishes so the price goes up and the bill is inflated. The rich also buy luxury yachts costing millions of dollars for their luxury travel. They even buy their own planes for transport and leisure. They go first class on commercial flights which include private wings for the VIPs at exorbitant prices. And they buy the best cars on the market. They go to sports competitions and to the theatre where special seats and private boxes are reserved for them.When they go shopping, especially when they are with their families, they like to embellish their appearance with fine clothes and jewels and ornaments to distinguish their residences. They also buy gifts for their close relations and friends, as well as those with whom they have professional dealings.There is a small minority of rich Muslims and Arabs who spend their money gambling and in night clubs. Their behaviour receives extensive media coverage and dominates tourism news more so than coverage of responsible tourism.It is necessary to applaud those with a social conscience who spend their money and time on charitable activities and pay, to varying degrees, their religious financial obligations. They donate millions to worthwhile endeavours, even to the detriment of their businesses and set up charitable organisations. That is where they find pleasure and happiness. They also visit Mecca and other holy places many times and take part in various congresses or meetings of charities. Space Tourism I will now return to the subject of this article. At the beginning of the 21st century space tourism, a new unlimited horizon for investment and expenditure appeared. Many international agencies started to market it, with a strong contribution from the private sector. Basing itself on space technology this tourism is completely different from land tourism. Competition between these two types of tourism has already started - not only with regard to prices levels, but also in terms of providing comfort, safety and ecological conservation, as well as the dimensions and prospects of space voyages. Space tourism agencies started to advertise space voyages and to take part in exhibitions. What is Space Tourism?Here is a short introduction to space tourism and the companies promoting it.Russia was the first to inaugurate this activity, when its spaceship Soyuz TM-31 made it possible for the American millionaire Dennis Tito to be the “First Tourist in Space”, at a price of $20 million. The trip took place on Saturday 28th April 2001.Mr. Tito, spent 10 days in the international space station. He was followed by Marc Shuttleworth, the wealthy South-African. Four years later, the American millionaire, Gregory Olsen also spent eight days in the international space station.Space tourism was not limited to men. The American-Iranian woman, Anousheh Ansari was the first woman tourist in space. Once again, it was Soyuz which enabled her to make her dream come true and see Iran, from space, after she paid $20 million. But the Russians have more ambitious dreams. The president of the Russian company which manufactures spaceships stated at the beginning of 2007 that his intention was to produce five Kliper spacecraft. He is estimating profits of $7 billion in 15 years. He thinks that the space tourism market will see a considerable growth that requires new vessels able to accommodate several travellers. He said that Soyuz is unable to meet the demand of the future - hundreds of tourists interested in space travel.The Americans have another philosophy when it comes to space tourism. The American space Agency, NASA, says that one of its goals is to build a life in space. It is essential to have commercial partners to carry out this project. They will be in charge of the commercial aspect, and NASA will be dealing with the research and technological development.This philosophy led to the creation of the Ansari-X prize to encourage commercial voyages, which inaugurated a new era of space tourism. This prize of $10 million will be offered to the first private vessel launched in space. It will make longer voyages of several hours or a few days possible. The introduction of this prize accentuated the competition between international private companies. The American company manufacturing Space Ship One launched a manned spacecraft on 21 June 2004. The company repeated the experience, the same year, by launching two other vessels; it won the Ansari- X prize and produced the first space ship financed by individuals.According to this innovative design, the company Virgin Galactic, owned by the British millionaire Richard Bronson, will start tourist space flights in 2009, with spacecraft capable of carrying eight people at a cost of $200,000 each. It is currently showing the model of its spacecraft at the Science Museum in London, to attract tourists. The Emirates businessman Ibrahim Sharaf, will be the third Arab space tourist, after the Saudi Emir Sultan Ben Salman, and the Syrian Mohamed Faress. Sharaf. They are among the first 100 space tourists for commercial flights on board the Galactic vessel. The company envisages 50,000 tourists in the first decade of its project.Europe also intends to enter the field of space tourism. The Astrium Unit, part of the European Group EADS, announced the manufacture of four rocket aircraft with a capacity for four people. These planes will fly 100 km above the earth, making it possible for tourists to spend three minutes at zero gravity and to appreciate a rare sight of the spherical shape of the earth, at a price of 200,000 euros, including one week of training. The first flight is planned for 2012. The cost remains lower than the $20 million per seat required by the Russians to go to the international space station.China also revealed its plans in this field. In the next 25 years, it intends to build, its first space station, within a plan which aims at joining the United States and Russia in this field. The spokesman of the Chinese Academy of Sciences indicated that the station will be the first step for Chinese space tourism.Arab space tourism is represented by the declaration of Sheik Saoud Ben Saqr Al Kassimi of Ras El Kheima, on 18 February 2006, that space flight will be coming soon, launched from that emirate, following the signing of an agreement with the company Space Adventure, aiming at the construction of a space airport in this emirate. He hopes this will attract more tourists.All the indicators show that there is a large market for this modern tourism. Karl Dietch, from the International Space University, indicated that it is probable to have a million tourists in space in 50 years. A report from Space Business estimated that the space trade will reach $300 billion in 2010. The door to space tourism was slightly opened in 2001, but now it is definitely ajar benefiting from technological developments.To conclude, I would quote Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb, who described four people: one gained this world and lost the hereafter; the second lost this world and gained the hereafter; the condemned one is the one who lost both and congratulations to the one who gained both.Goodbye and we will meet in other tourism prospects on earth. My next article will deal with the prospects for tourism for people with limited incomes who represent about 99% of the world’s population. May God guides us to success A. S. Shakiry
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