Commercial Spaceflight

July 2021, is an important month in the history of commercial spaceflights. A new era of dreams has started. 

Ever since humans have understood that the earth is not flat, and there is a universe outside, our dreams have soared. 

From the Wright brothers and others, who made a human flight successful, the common man, reaching to the edge of space, is a remarkable journey.

It will be wrong to understand the commercial flight, as a rich man’s space limousine. Though money is a serious consideration now, it will not be later.

• वाणिज्यिक अंतरिक्ष उड़ान पर्यटन या तीर्थयात्रा? 

 Today it was a billionaire in space, tomorrow it will be a common man. The economies of scale will dictate the ticket price. Like air travel was once a premium, and now it is not. 

So, it is a matter of time when grandmas, rich and not so rich, with their grand kids, will just strap their seat belts and ride into one of those vehicles.

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Like first-time air travellers, the world view changes forever. Two places on the gigantic earth seem closer. It opens the horizon of possibilities, with the universe wide open, only to explore.

 A profound appreciation of effort, by thousand staff, the amazing technology that goes in a successful flight, adds to the journey’s uniqueness.

Experience is what makes space travel different. It is neither the weightlessness, nor the thrust of the rocket booster, under your capsule that makes it extraordinary. 

The life above the Karman line, metamorphosises the human. Even a few minutes, up there, is enough to put divine perspective, about life on earth. 

 The humbling experience of seeing the earth so small and us humans, so minuscule part of the universe system, makes space travel spiritual. 

Through the spaceship’s window, the sight of earth’s curvature, the fragile atmosphere, and the beautiful blue planet, make it mystical. 

Exploring other planets, our journey into deep space beyond our solar system, and then returning to share the experience, is next in human possibility. 

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There are umpteen astronauts who have changed their life view, once back from a space trip.

For those billionaires, in this week, they have got their monies at the right place. It is philanthropic at best. In decades and centuries to come, each one of us, stuck by gravity, will aspire to feel the divine weightlessness of zero gravity. 

To our eyes, the earth which looks flat, and curves only in books,  will witness the science.

Commercial spaceflights are not tourism. Soon, the promoters will realise the misnomer. One can only guess why, till they experience it. Probably, there is no term yet to describe the sentiments.

We are just nine days old, on this path. It is a journey a common man will undertake, to know the world's vastness, and feel the tiniest bit that makes us all. 

The boats may float through the deep blue exotic seas, through the skies, flights may take you to places, but the rocket returns you home. 

There is no destination in space, still anyone can ride to that undefined destination, bow our head to the enchantment of blue planet, view the never-ending universe, feel the weightlessness of outer space and safely return home.

• वाणिज्यिक अंतरिक्ष उड़ान पर्यटन या तीर्थयात्रा?

 For mankind, this spaceflight with anyone of us, is a milestone in our long trek of imagination, coming true this week.

(As understood by the shared experience by the space travellers – Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and their co-passengers)

Richard Branson – Virgin Galactic Unity 22 – Spaceflight 11th July 2021 – Peak Altitude 86.1 Km

Jeff Bezos – Blue Origin New Shepard – Spaceflight 20th July 2021 – Peak Altitude 107 Km

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