An artist's rendition of the interior of a space hotel that is being planned by the private sector. (Crystal Space Palace, Inc./ Tsuyoshi Saotome)     A HONEYMOON ON THE MOON? Private Sector Works to Develop Space Tourism April 17, 2002 Boarding a spaceship and taking a trip to the heavens is something that is limited to astronauts who have been carefully selected by a nation's space program. Or at least this is the conventional wisdom that has prevailed until now. A special group of private citizens has been born that aims to make space travel a reality for ordinary people. In the spring of 2001 a 60-year-old American entrepreneur named Dennis Tito became the first space tourist in history, hitching a ride on a Russian spaceship. The "fare" for his journey was reportedly $25 million. The newly formed group hopes to bring the price tag down and is confident about sending people into space through the private sector by the year 2015. A Ready Market This group, known as the Lunar Cruise Project (site is Japanese only), was begun in December 2001, as people who are passionate about the subject of space travel gathered together. Its aim is to transform space travel from the exclusive domain of astronauts and researchers into an option for ordinary people, and they hope to make space tourism a reality under their own power. Member's of the Space Tourism Club listens in as Tsuyoshi Saotome discussed his company's plans for a space entertainment center. (Space Tourism Club)     The project will first study the practical aspects of space tourism, such as what kind of vehicles are appropriate for transporting passengers, the amount of room required for life in space, and the food that will be eaten there. The group's present image of space tourism is a one-week trip to the moon, involving a two-day journey, three days on the moon, and a two-day return trip. Because there is the danger of exposure to radiation in space, the hotel will be constructed underground. A large water tank will be installed in the ceiling of the hotel, allowing guests to enjoy the view of earth and space while shielding them from harmful rays. Noted Scholar Predicts Viable Business   Your Name What did you think of this article? It was interesting. It was boring. Send this article to a friend Trends in Japan Home In order to make this dream a reality, people of varying backgrounds have joined the project team. Members include university professors who research spaceships and space stations, young engineers, industrial designers, and university professors who study the economics of space tourism. And the work is not just conducted by team members; symposiums sponsored by the team have been attended by foreign researchers with an interest in space travel. Experts in a wide variety of fields have shared their specialized knowledge with the group, which will present the results of its research at an exhibition in Tokyo in May. If the project team's research bears fruit and space travel for ordinary people becomes a reality by 2015, there may be couples that will plan on taking their honeymoon on the moon itself. Azabu University Professor Patrick Collins, a leading authority on the space-tourism industry, says that space tourism would be quite a profitable business. Major travel agency Kinki Nippon Tourist Co. launched a "Space Tourism Club" in August 2001. At present, the club, which has more than 300 members, provides information on space tourism to members and studies facilities related to the field. But the club is unable to slake its members' desire for space travel with information alone; there is a chance that the group will try to participate in a zero-gravity test flight. Copyright (c) 2002 Japan Information Network. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.