The primary impediments to commercial space tourism industrial development
were reported in this chapter. Insufficient investment was the single greatest impediment
for several reasons. Investors were not attracted to commercial space projects. There were
several obstacles to obtaining adequate investment, and inadequate investment cancelled
space tourism plans. The second impediment to space tourism enterprise was space
dangers. Dangers included space weather, radiation, debris, asteroids and meteors, space
traffic congestion and outer space hazards. Excessive regulation was the third impediment.
The negative consequences of excessive regulation were documented. Transportation
dangers, the fourth impediment discussed, were identified and quantified. The fifth
impediment involved medical and health issues. Space medical & health risks were
described and the empirical space health record to date was examined. The significance of
legal issues in space tourism was noted and the adequacy of contemporary commercial
space law discussed. Pricepoint was the seventh primary impediment. This primary
obstacle deterred commercialization of space tourism. Space tourism revenue did not
exceed cost. The necessity for coalitions impeded space tourism. Commercial space
cooperation was necessary, and coalitions must be international and include the public and
private sectors and the travel and tourism industry. Problems with international cooperation
were noted. Infrastructure inadequacy was identified as another primary impediment. Five
types of needed space tourism infrastructure were located and it was observed that there
was inadequate infrastructure. Politics was another obstacle to commercial space enterprise.
Politics obstructed space tourism development and determined policy. Inadequate
transportation was the final primary impediment.
Keywords: Acceleration, bone demineralization, coalition, communications
infrastructure, deceleration, decompression, gravity, landing, microgravity, National
Aeronautic and Space Administration, parabolic flight, radiation, solar flare, Space
Adaptation Syndrome, space danger, space law, space sickness, space weather, takeoff,
traffic control.
