Feasibility Study and Future Projections of Suborbital Space Tourism at the Example of Virgin Galactic

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. General Aspects on Space Tourism

2.1 History of Space Exploration and Space Tourism

2.2 Motives for going to space

2.3 Benefits of Space Tourism

2.4 Obstacles to Space Tourism

2.5 Stages of Space Tourism

3. Feasibility Study and Future Projections of Suborbital Space Tourism

3.1 The Virgin Galactic Approach

3.1.1 The Product

3.1.2 The Place

3.1.3 The Communication Policy

3.1.4 SWOT Analysis of Virgin Galactic

3.2 Analysis of Virgin Galactic’s Direct Competitors in Suborbital Space Tourism

3.2.1 Space Adventures

3.2.2 Benson Space Company

3.2.3 Space Access

3.2.4 Incredible Adventures

3.2.5 Rocketplane Limited

3.2.6 Starchaser Industries

3.2.7 Blue Origin

3.2.8 Summary

3.3 Suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicles and Their Manufacturers

3.3.1 SpaceShipTwo (The Spaceship Company)

3.3.2 Dream Chaser (SpaceDev)

3.3.3 New Shepard (Blue Origin)

3.3.4 Skyhopper (Space Access)

3.3.5 Newson’s Spaceship (EADS Astrium)

3.3.6 Lynx (XCOR Aerospace)

3.3.7 Ascender (Bristol Spaceplanes)

3.3.8 Thunderstar (Starchaser Industries)

3.3.9 Rocketplane XP (Rocketplane Limited)

3.3.10 Summary

3.4 Regulatory Framework and Non-Profit Space Tourism Organisations

3.4.1 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

3.4.2 X Prize Foundation

3.4.3 Space Tourism Society

3.4.4 Summary

3.5 Suborbital Space Tourism Demand

4. Conclusion

Objectives and Topics

The primary research objective is to analyze and evaluate the viability of the emerging suborbital space tourism industry by conducting a feasibility study focused on the example of Virgin Galactic and its market environment.

• Examination of the historical development and current status of the space tourism sector.
• Evaluation of Virgin Galactic's business approach, including product, place, and communication strategies.
• Comparative analysis of direct market competitors in the suborbital space field.
• Technical assessment of reusable launch vehicles and their respective manufacturers.
• Analysis of regulatory frameworks and the impact of non-profit space tourism organizations on industry promotion.
• Projection of future suborbital space tourism demand and market trends.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the vision of space tourism, defining the research objective of evaluating its potential as a viable, revenue-generating industry.

2. General Aspects on Space Tourism: The author provides an overview of space history, passenger motives, industry benefits, obstacles such as safety and cost, and categorizes space tourism into different operational stages.

3. Feasibility Study and Future Projections of Suborbital Space Tourism: This core section analyzes the Virgin Galactic approach, evaluates direct competitors, examines reusable launch vehicles, reviews the FAA regulatory environment, and assesses suborbital demand.

4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the feasibility analysis, confirming the industry's potential while emphasizing that success depends heavily on safety and price reductions.

Keywords

Space Tourism, Suborbital Flight, Virgin Galactic, Reusable Launch Vehicles, Spaceport, Feasibility Study, FAA, Space Exploration, Commercial Space, Market Demand, X Prize, Astronaut, Spacecraft, Spaceport America, Space Adventures

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this study?

The study provides a comprehensive feasibility analysis of the emerging suborbital space tourism industry, using Virgin Galactic as a primary example to assess whether the sector has the potential to become a viable, revenue-generating business.

What are the central themes investigated?

The paper covers the history of space exploration, passenger motivations, the economic and technological feasibility of space travel, competitive analysis of industry players, and the regulatory framework governing space activities.

What is the primary objective of the author?

The objective is to determine if suborbital space tourism can transition from a niche, high-cost pioneer market into a mass-market industry in the near future.

What scientific methods were used?

The author utilized extensive research of secondary data (industry reports, company documents, historical data) and complemented this with primary data gathered through personal interviews with subject matter experts.

What does the main body of the work cover?

The main part of the thesis consists of an in-depth feasibility study, which includes analyses of business strategies, technical specifications of launch vehicles, regulatory requirements, and future demand projections.

Which keywords best describe the work?

The central concepts are suborbital space flight, commercial space tourism, launch vehicles, feasibility, and market development.

Why is Virgin Galactic used as the primary case study?

Virgin Galactic is analyzed as the leading representative of the industry, currently demonstrating the most advanced operational preparation and a comprehensive business strategy to enter the commercial suborbital market.

What role do non-profit organizations play in this industry?

Non-profit organizations, such as the X Prize Foundation and the Space Tourism Society, serve as crucial catalysts by promoting public interest, fostering innovation through prize-based competition, and helping to establish industry norms.

How is the safety aspect handled in the work?

Safety is identified as the most critical hurdle for the industry; the work examines how regulatory bodies like the FAA establish protocols and how operators strive to balance technical safety requirements with economic feasibility.

What is the outlook for future ticket prices?

The study suggests that while initial tickets will remain expensive (around $200,000), prices are expected to decline as demand increases and operations achieve economies of scale.