spacetoday.net: Report: space tourism could become billion-dollar industry in 20 years

Posted: Tue, Oct 8, 2002, 8:06 AM ET (1206 GMT)
A report published Monday by the Futron Corporation concludes that space tourism could develop into an industry with revenues of over $1 billion a year within 20 years. The Space Tourism Market Study found that orbital space tourism could grow to 60 passengers and $300 million a year by 2021. Suborbital space tourism, which does not yet exist but is being pursued by several companies, could account for 15,000 passengers and $700 million a year by 2021. The results are based on a detailed analysis of a Zogby International poll of wealthy Americans commissioned earlier this year by Futron; that survey found that 19 percent of the affluent would be willing to spend $100,000 on a suborbital flight and 7 percent would spend $20 million for an orbital flight. The report also found that the creation of a dedicated orbital facility for space tourism could stimulate demand, while the type of launch vehicle — government or commercial — as well as concerns about post-flight physical discomfort had little impact on demand.