The announcement follows Mojave Aerospace Ventures’ winning the $10 million X Prize and Sir Richard Branson's formation of Virgin Galactic, which aims to be a commercial space tourism operator. It is expected others will soon follow.
AUSTIN, Texas, October 11, 2004 - The Space Tourism Initiative, a new organization chartered with the growth of the emerging space tourism industry: privately funded spaceships dedicated to carrying commercial passengers on space flights, announced the Space Tourism Summit, a trade-only event for professionals in the emerging space tourism industry, and the Space Tourism Conference, an event for would-be space tourists. Both annual events kick off in 2005.
The Space Tourism Initiative serves two purposes: The first is producing trade events allowing industry leaders and professionals to interact and drive the industry forward. The second is providing potential space tourists opportunities to meet and evaluate with space travel companies the variety of options available so tourists can select those most suited with their needs and interests.
“Led by scientists and start-up entrepreneurs, space tourism is now attracting a huge amount of consumer attention and generating buzz among businesses, investors and governments on an international level,” said Christopher Sherman, director of the Space Tourism Initiative. “Burt Rutan's Mojave Aerospace Ventures’ winning the X Prize and Sir Richard Branson's formation of Virgin Galactic, which aims to be a commercial space tourism operator, is only the beginning. The number of companies offering space tourism flights and the space travel options available will continue to proliferate as businesses small and large get serious about the opportunities.”
Space Tourism Summit - A Trade Only Event
The Space Tourism Summit brings together leaders from private industry and state and federal governments to discuss issues pertaining to the emerging space tourism industry. The first Space Tourism Summit will take place in 2005.
The Summit program will include, but not be limited to, the following: continuing the momentum of the industry, mitigating risk, capital requirements and sources, long-term ROI, regulatory issues, international considerations, workforce resources, and the growth of traditionally government-owned travel medium. Non-tourism opportunities opened by spaced tourism will be discussed as well. Summit details will be announced shortly. Additional details will be available at http://www.SpaceTourismSummit.com
Space Tourism Conference - An Event for Prospective Space Tourists
The Space Tourism Conference provides would-be space tourists the opportunity to directly meet with a variety of space flight companies and independent experts in a single location to evaluate and understand the options available now and in the near future. The first Space Tourism Conference will take place in 2005.
Space tourist packages will soon be made available by a number space flight companies offering a wide range of services and space travel options. As a major purchase decision that involves an element of risk, prospective space tourists - expected to initially be affluent individuals and companies - can evaluate a range of offerings (both current and near future) from multiple companies at the Conference. The conference will provide details on flight options and modes of travel, expectations, safety procedures, and training and medical implications, and more. Additional details will be available at http://www.SpaceTourismConference.com
About The Space Tourism Initiative.
The Space Tourism Initiative (STI) is chartered with the growth of the emerging space tourism industry: privately funded spaceships dedicated to carrying commercial passengers on space flights. STI serves a dual role: 1) producing trade events that allow industry leaders and professionals to interact and drive the industry forward and; 2) providing potential space tourists with opportunities meet, research and discuss with space travel companies the variety of space tourist travel options available so prospective tourists can select the option most suited with their needs and interests. STI produces the Space Tourism Summit, a trade-only event and the Space Tourism Conference, an event for prospective space tourists. For more details please visit our web site at http://www.SpaceTourismInitiative.com