The Evolution of Space Travel – From Nation States to Democratization

As entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson race to send travelers into space, government agencies continue to invest billions in space exploration. However, space exploration is becoming less of an initiative led by nation states and more democratized via organizations such as Space for Humanity.

Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space, orbiting the Earth on April 12, 1961.

Since then, more than 585 people have traveled in space, approximately a tenth of which have been women.

After Soviet cosmonauts completed the first space walks, President John F. Kennedy announced a mission to put the first man on the moon. Apollo 11 touched down on July 20, 1969, effectively winning the space race for the United States.

Twelve Americans have walked on the moon.

Since the United States’ last lunar mission in 1972, no one has returned to the moon. While we tend to associate astronautics with travel to far-flung planets, the majority of individuals who have been fortunate enough to experience space travel have done so within a few hundred miles of the Earth’s surface.

Humans have begun to work and live beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.

While it has been several decades since humans have traveled to deep space, they continue to push the boundaries in terms of scientific research, experimenting with microgravity and weightlessness, as well as their effects on the human body.

The Soviet Union launched the Mir Space Station in 1986.

After the Mir space station fell to Earth, burning upon re-entry, Americans launched the International Space Station. Since 2000, the International Space Station has been consistently manned, often by multiple people orbiting the Earth once every 90 minutes.

NASA’s Mars 2020 mission sets goals for interplanetary exploration.

The mission aims to find answers to a variety of scientific questions and to help us to bridge the gap in terms of our understanding of astrobiology. The Mars 2020 mission could help to answer one of astronomy’s most commonly asked questions: Is there life on Mars?

As part of the Mars 2020 mission, NASA will seek signs of hospitable conditions in order to ascertain the viability of human habitation. Through state-of-the-art core sampling capabilities, the Perseverance Rover will collect soil and rock specimens, creating a “cache” of minerals from the planet’s surface. The hope is that future missions could potentially enable it to bring back vital samples to Earth and allow scientists to analyze the materials using equipment that is too large to take into space. In addition, the materials may possibly provide critical clues as to the viability of life on Mars.

The mission represents a significant fact-finding opportunity to enable scientists to demonstrate technology and gather knowledge. One aspect that NASA is examining is the potential of producing oxygen within Mars’ atmosphere to support human life. NASA also hopes to ascertain whether or not water is present on Mars or could conceivably be introduced in the future. Moreover, it will research logistical aspects, which include characterizing environmental factors, such as the weather, that could affect the viability of astronauts working and living on Mars.

The first space tourist was Dennis Tito.

After returning to Earth from a trip to the International Space Station on May 9, 2001, Tito explained at a press conference how he felt about becoming the world’s first space tourist.

The space flight, which reportedly cost him approximately $20 million, was operated as part of the Russian space program. Tito reported struggling to get anyone to take him initially, with NASA refusing on the grounds that he did not have the necessary training.

Over the course of the next 10 years, six other private individuals followed in Tito’s footsteps. The demand for commercial space travel remains high.

Space for Humanity strives to expand access to space travel.

Space for Humanity aims to support space exploration—making it accessible to all—while simultaneously training the next generation of leaders and cultivating a movement toward a more harmonious world.

The organization is committed to creating a culture that supports social value and equal rights, celebrating uniqueness and prioritizing unity.

The global pandemic highlights humanity’s innate interconnectedness. In addition, it serves as a stark reminder that we need to change our perspective in order to solve challenging problems, both here on Earth and in space.

Space for Humanity’s Sponsored Citizen Astronaut Mission represents a unique opportunity for individuals from all walks of life to experience space travel firsthand. Each year, the organization selects a new, diverse group of leaders. The program enables individuals to apply for an all-expenses paid journey to space and sows the seeds for a new generation of space travelers and humanitarian leaders.