SUB-ORBITAL TRIPS

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: On May 19, Gopi Thotakura, an India-born aviator and commercial pilot based in the United States, made history by becoming the first Indian space tourist.

EXPLANATION:

• Thotakura was part of a six-member group on a sub-orbital space flight conducted by Blue Origin, marking a significant milestone in space tourism.
• This brief journey provided a taste of space travel without entering a full orbit around Earth.

What are Sub-Orbital Trips?

• Sub-orbital trips are spaceflights that reach the edge of space without entering a continuous orbit around Earth.
• These journeys typically cross the Karman line, located at an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers above sea level, which is considered the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
  • Space travel is generally recognized to begin at the Karman line.
  • Below this altitude, vehicles are considered aircraft, while those crossing the line are classified as spacecraft.
  • The Karman line is thus a critical marker distinguishing atmospheric flight from space travel.
• However, sub-orbital flights do not have the velocity required to sustain an orbital trajectory and therefore return to Earth after reaching their peak altitude.
• Thotakura’s flight with Blue Origin lasted about ten minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 105 kilometers.
• During this short trip, passengers experienced several minutes of weightlessness and had the opportunity to observe Earth from space.
• The spacecraft ascended, crossed the Karman line, and then descended back to the surface, exemplifying the typical profile of a sub-orbital flight.

The Potential for Longer Space Journeys

• Orbital and Deep Space Tourism
  • While sub-orbital flights are currently the most common form of space tourism, longer and more ambitious journeys are also possible.
  • Space tourists have previously orbited Earth and even stayed aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
  • The first space tourist, Dennis Tito, traveled on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2001, spending over seven days on the ISS.
  • Between 2001 and 2009, seven tourists made similar trips, with one individual, Charles Simonyi, making the journey twice.
  • Plans are in development for deeper space missions, potentially allowing tourists to travel around the Moon, visit other planets, or explore asteroids.
  • However, these ambitious ventures remain in the planning stages and are not yet available to the public.

The Current State of Space Tourism

• A variety of private companies currently offer space tourism experiences.
• Blue Origin, the company behind Thotakura’s recent flight, has conducted 37 sub-orbital missions to date.
• Other prominent players in the space tourism market include Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Axiom Space, Zero Gravity Corporation, and aerospace giants like Boeing and Airbus.
• These companies provide a range of experiences from sub-orbital flights to more extended stays in space.
• The cost of space tourism is currently prohibitive for most people, making it accessible primarily to the super-rich.
• Although Blue Origin has not disclosed the cost for its latest flight, similar trips with Virgin Galactic are priced around $450,000.
• A journey to the ISS can cost between $20 million and $25 million, while a future trip around the Moon could range from $70 million to $100 million.
• Despite these high prices, the space tourism market is expected to grow rapidly.

Blue origin

• The company was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.
• Blue Origin is an American aerospace manufacturer, defence contractor, launch service provider and space technologies company headquartered in Washington, United States.
• In 2021, New Shepard performed its first crewed mission to sub-orbital space called Blue Origin NS-16.
• The flight lasted approximately 10 minutes and crossed the Karman line.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/space-tourism-gopi-thotakura-9340113/