Swapping Private Jets for Rockets: Why We Should Be Skeptical of Space Tourism
By Alicia McCormack
There are a multitude of crippling problems on Earth – starvation, poverty, disease, abuse. Meanwhile an abundance of wealth floats around the world, exchanging hands at private beaches, exclusive parties, yachts and galas. The amounts passing from one star-studded palm to another in one night are at times enough to feed a family for a year. In an era rife with global tension and increasing poverty, cost-of-living crises burden ordinary people living even in the richest countries. Ireland was ranked third richest country in the world by the Global Finance Magazine in 2024. [1] At the same time, 11.7% of the population are at risk of poverty. The richest 20% of the population have 3.8 times the income of the poorest 20%. [2] The Blue Origin space expedition served as a perfect reminder: while some people are choosing between small luxuries and survival, the rich have found new vanity pursuits to pour their excessive wealth into. On 14th April 2025, an all-female crew of six high-profile women launched into space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space rocket. This included singer Katy Perry, journalist and Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez and CBS presenter Gayle King. After an excursion to 100km above Earth, lasting all of eleven minutes, the crew made a triumphant return. Perry and King fell to their knees and kissed the ground. The women gushed about the beauty of Earth and their newfound connection to the planet. [3]
A planet that is – quite literally – dying. It is not helped by a voyage of self-discovery that required excessive amounts of natural resources and released greenhouses gases that damage the ozone layer and negatively affect the climate. The deposit alone for a single spot on Bezo’s rocket sits at $150, 000. The total cost is estimated to be in the millions. [4] This is hard to stomach when for millions of suffering people on the planet, a fraction of this amount could be life changing. The environmental impact and financial cost did not result in any scientific advancement. The purpose of the trip was, allegedly, feminism. Even playing Sia’s ‘Unstoppable’ as they walked on stage for their first press conference, this was yet another on-the-nose attempt to pretend this was ‘for the girls’. Unfortunately the ‘girls can do it too’ narrative was lost on the general public, considering all that has been gained from the trip is that Katy Perry will be writing a song about her experience. [4] The real agenda of this expedition seems like a high-budget advertisement for space tourism.
With the severe environmental damage caused by space exploration, it would seem imperative that it is solely for scientific knowledge. But companies like Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are running the new ‘space race’ to establish a commercial space industry. Though they claim this will one day be affordable, for now the cost is out of reach for anyone but the 1%. [4] With 38% of luxury travellers interested in space tourism, there is a danger that these expeditions may become a fun trend in the future, further destroying the planet in the process. [5] And as if humans haven’t caused enough harm to Earth, now space is vulnerable to our pollution. Tourism, as seen in Antarctica, can cause irreparable harm to unique habitats that were never supposed to be interfered with. The emission of gases and debris leftover from rockets could have unforeseen consequences.
Space tourism doesn’t stop there – it’s a warm-up for Bezos’ and Musk’s ambitious plans to colonise space. Climate change poses the biggest threat the Earth has ever faced. ‘There is no Plan B’, scientists tell us, but Bezos and Musk have found one. Instead of taking measures to reduce Amazon’s massive carbon footprint, Bezos would rather move polluting industries off Earth into space. [6] But how will it affect our galaxy to be exposed to these emissions for the first time? They have torn the seams of our planet apart – what will be the long-term impact on other planets? Musk aspires to establish a colony on Mars. He plans to resettle one million people by 2050 with the first settlers embarking by the end of this decade. [7] Instead of finding emergency solutions to save Earth, the two richest men in the world funnel their money into bringing all the mistakes of Earth that we’ve never learnt from and dumping them in space. A civilisation on Mars would be under the thumb of Musk. Renowned for his disregard for workers’ rights and countless allegations of racial and sexual harassment, it is disconcerting to consider what he could enact on a planet with no established law and order. [7] The possibilities are enough to make me swear ‘Team Earth’ for life regardless of how terrible it gets. Not that I may even be able to go to Mars. The cost of resettling one million people will likely require a heavy price from hopeful travellers.
If conditions on Earth become hazardous to life in the future, would the escape plan really be free of charge? Or will ‘Plan B’ only be an option for the elites, who might finally abandon pretences of empowering the rest of us and leave us behind for good?
References:
[1] Luca Ventura. (2024). Richest Countries in the World 2024. [Online]. Global Finance Magazine. Last Updated: 3 May 2024. Available at: https://gfmag.com/data/richest-countries-in-the-world/ [Accessed 18 June 2025].
[2] Imasha Costa. (2025). Rising cost of living pushes more Irish households into poverty, CSO figures reveal. [Online]. Irish Examiner. Last Updated: 20 March 2025. Available at: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41597053.html [Accessed 18 June 2025].
[3] Maddie Molloy & Victoria Gill. (2025). Blue Origin crew safely back on Earth after all-female space flight. [Online]. BBC News. Last Updated: 14 April 2025. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg8e5gq8ljo [Accessed 25 May 2025].
[4] CBC News: The National (2025) Katy Perry kisses the ground after all-female space trip [Online video] Available from: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MECWoZxOuI] [Accessed 15th June 2025].
[5] Evona. (2025). The Future of Space Tourism. [Online]. Evona. Available at: https://www.evona.com/blog/the-future-of-space-tourism/# [Accessed 14 June 2025].
[6] The Economic Times. (2024). Colonising Mars or dumping Earth’s waste in space? How world’s two richest men are fighting their Star Wars. [Online]. The Economic Times. Last Updated: 10 December 2024. Available at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/colonising-mars-or-dumping-ear [Accessed 16 June 2025].
[7] Matthew R Francis. (2023). Musk and Bezos Offer Humanity a Grim Future in Space Colonies. [Online]. Scientific American. Last Updated: 26 June 2023. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/musk-and-bezos-offer-humanity-a-grim-future-in-space-colo [Accessed 16 June 2025].
