Space Tourism

The Elusive Dream

Erik Cohen|Sam Spector

Emerald

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9781789734966

06 September 2019

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9781789734959

06 September 2019

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9781789734973

06 September 2019

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There is an unbridged gap between human aspirations to travel into space and the barriers to realizing such dreams. Despite optimistic predictions, a viable space tourism industry has yet to emerge, with only a handful of 'millionaire' space tourists having experienced travel in outer space. Space tourism remains an elusive dream.

This is the first comprehensive, multidisciplinary work on the emergent phenomenon of space tourism. Leading specialists from a range of fields cover a wide spectrum of topics including the space history and technology underpinning current developments; space tourists' motivations; and the environmental, social, and legal aspects concomitant with a space tourism industry. The book is unique in its focus on virtual forms of space travel, such as those manifesting in virtual reality, films, and games. The volume takes a nuanced and critical approach to the development of aspirations to leave Earth, stressing the far-reaching implications for the environment and for human life and society on Earth.

The book is written in an approachable manner, making it accessible to both academics and the interested general reader. Owing to its interdisciplinary character, it should be of interest to practitioners and teachers across the sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

Introduction. The dawn of a new era?; E. Cohen & S. Spector Part I: Histories Chapter 1. Human aspirations to expand into space: A historical review; R.D. Launius Chapter 2. History of space tourism; C. Cater Part II: Imaginaries Chapter 3. Extraterrestrial life, stellar civilizations, and aliens; E. Cohen Chapter 4. Space tourism in contemporary cinema and video games; M. Ceuterick & M.R. Johnson Chapter 5. Virtual reality and space tourism; K. Damjanov & D. Crouch Part III: Advances Chapter 6. Exploring motivations of potential space tourists; J. Laing & W. Frost Chapter 7. Current space tourism developments; D. Webber Chapter 8. The regulation of space tourism; F.G. von der Dunk Part IV: Implications Chapter 9. Social relations, space travel, and the body of the astronaut; P. Dickens Chapter 10. Space tourism, capital, and identity; J. Ormrod & P. Dickens Chapter 11. Space tourism, the Anthropocene, and sustainability; S. Spector & J.E.S. Higham

Researchers mostly in tourism but also a wide range of disciplines examine the state and future of space tourism by juxtaposing the grandiose dreams of human expansion into the cosmos with some formidable economic, environmental, and social challenges. In sections on histories, imaginaries, advances, and implications, they consider such aspects as human aspirations to expand into space: a historical review, space tourism in contemporary cinema and video games, exploring motivations of potential space tourists, and the regulation of space tourism.
- Copyright 2019

Erik Cohen is the George S. Wise Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His recent work focused on the sociological theory of tourism, space tourism, ethnic tourism in Southeast Asia, and animals in tourism.

Sam Spector is a Lecturer in the Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. His research explores intersections between tourism, transport, sustainability, and resilience.