The Space Tourism Conference (STC) is an annual event that brings together industries and leading executives from all over the world related to the space travel industry and its development. It is held on the 28th of each April and usually lasts for two or three days. The Space Tourism Society, a pioneering space tourism advocacy organization present for over two decades, produces, supports, and organizes the conference on a yearly basis and aspires to enhance the cross-section of all businesses comprising space tourism: aerospace, science, manufacturing, media, design, finance, marketing, and even the arts as well.
Morgan Stanley predicted recently that the revenues of the global space industry will exceed[1] $1 trillion by 2040, while UBS, another leading financial services body, estimated that[2] by 2030 travel via outer space will reach the breathtaking threshold of $20 billion/year, and become a strong competitor of long-distance airline flights. With these stats, the interest gathered around this economic sector can’t be left unnoticed. And the importance of global conferences like the Space Tourism Conference is right on the spot.
The Space Tourism Conference: When did it all begin?
Back in the middle 1990s, the discussion over the space tourism industry was still considered rather premature by many. Few people dare to even visualize such a venture. However, John Spencer, an outer space architect, and designer didn’t belong to that group. His work at NASA inspired him to start thinking about commercial human spaceflights and how to actually make them happen.
In 1995 he founded (and presided for many years) the Space Tourism Society (STS), focusing on strategically introducing new industries to realistic commercial spaceflights, and made his mark as a co-author of the first book on space tourism issued in the USA under the title Space Tourism: Do You Want to Go? (Apogee Books, 2004), in which he presented the use of yachting and cruise ship industry models for commercial space travel.
To make the public dialogue around space tourism’s development more intense and effective, Spencer and his team decided to create a communication hub for all related stakeholders via a global annual conference. It was then that the Space Tourism Conference was given birth and subsequently gained recognition and an increasing attendance rate over the years.
Space Tourism is not just spaceflights
Someone may wonder why a global conference like the Space Tourism Conference is needed since the USA holds the reigns in the sector and countries like China, India, or even Russia have still a lot to conquer to make outer space accessible to plain humans. Well, space tourism is not just spaceflights. There is a whole industry rotating around space travel creating a very promising ecosystem with worldwide branches and networks.
We have the real spaceflights on one hand, and the earth-based simulations (like attractions, resorts, etc.) and the space entertainment world (like movies, games, books, etc.) on the other. These three main components create several sub-sectors equally important for the evolution and viability of space tourism as well as for the attraction of potential investors and customers.
STC: A chance to get a front seat in the commercial spaceflight venture
Space Tourism Conference has been met with huge success. People from all over the world who focus on the space tourism field have found themselves in the same space, sharing expertise, experiences, best practices, and provisions for the “next big thing”. The common ground for all these representatives of the otherwise challenging yet highly promising and inspiring venture was – and still remains – the aim they all share: to make commercial space travel accessible to all people on earth and spread its benefits to the whole of humanity.
The date of 28, April was not chosen randomly to be the Conference date. On the contrary, it was deliberately selected to celebrate and honor the spaceflight of the first private space tourist, the American Dennis[4] Tito, who broke the space tourism “ceiling” in 2001 when he flew to the Space Station Mir paying a ticket for $20 million. It was Tito who raised consumer awareness around the possibilities of private space travel and the multilevel experiences it can offer to consumers, and for his contribution, the Space Tourism Society (producer of the Space Tourism Conference) awarded him with the first Space Tourism Award.
Since then, the “Orbit Awards” have become a sort of institution and aim at honoring leading individuals and companies that have shown an active commitment to promoting the space tourism industry’s growth. Apart from Tito, luminaries such as Sir Richard Branson, The XPRIZE Foundation, and Zero Gravity Corporation have starred at the Awards as well.
Wondering how to be a part of the Space Tourism community?
Every conference can benefit its attendees because it enhances exposure, fosters public dialogue around the selected niche, and usually creates a domino effect through its produced outcome, conclusions, and insights. Attending the world’s first pioneering event on the commercial civilian outer-space travel field can therefore be a first-class experience.
If you want to be an active member of the space tourism community, you can start by attending the Space Tourism Conference. You can get hold of more info about its lineup on the event’s webpage and book your registration accordingly. Your attendance can prove to be more than prolific since you will gain access to concrete, valuable information, real-world case scenarios, executive networking, and premium deal-making regardless of the space travel sub-sector you are in.
Conclusion
Commercial space tourism is skyrocketing and it seems that this elevating race will continue over the next decades with outstanding spill-over effects in all other related fields of the world’s economy and society as a whole.
Being in the center of space travel’s advancements, keeping up with all the relevant updates, and meeting diverse but at the same time like-minded people, can help you achieve better insight into its potential growth and subsequently the growth of your business. The Space Tourism Conference provides an excellent chance.
So, why miss it?
