ISRO aims for the skies, targets space tourism

ISRO aims for the skies, targets space tourism
(Economic Times India) April 7, 2010
Even as countries are vying to grab a share of the tourism pie, ISRO is aiming at the skies, literally. They are seriously taking upthe challenge of pursuing space tourism in a big way. Newly-appointed chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr K Radhakrishnan says the space agency is exploring new strategies and technologies for human space flight programmes, low-cost access to space tourism and the colonisation of Mars and the Moon. As of 2009, space tourism opportunities have been limited and expensive, with the Russian Space Agency providing this facility. The price for a flight brokered by Space Adventures to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft is $20-35 million. Space tourists usually sign contracts with third parties to conduct certain research while in orbit. This helps minimise their own expenses. Countries like the US, Russia and Japan have already started work to have a habitat in Mars by 2030 and are devising a transportation system to reach Mars.