Space Tourism's Growth Blurs the Line Between Scientific and Symbolic Achievement. A Tourism Scholar Explains

Space tourism’s rise challenges how we define astronauts and exploration

On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin launched six women—Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez—on a suborbital journey to the edge of space. The headlines called it a historic moment for women in space. But as a tourism educator, I paused—not because I questioned their experience, but because I questioned the language. Were they astronauts or space tourists? The distinction matters—not just for accuracy, b…

Space tourism's growth blurs the line between scientific and symbolic achievement. A tourism scholar explains

On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin launched six women—Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez—on a suborbital journey to the edge of space.

Space tourism’s growth blurs the line between scientific and symbolic achievement – a tourism scholar explains how

Blue Origin's NS-31 flight lifted off on April 14, 2025. Justin Hamel/Getty ImagesOn April 14, 2025, Blue Origin launched six women – Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez – on a suborbital journey to the edge of space. The headlines called it a historic moment for women in space. But as a tourism educator, I paused – not because I questioned their experience, but because I questioned the language. …

Michel Messager, Roch Guilabert and Laurent Queige launched the Space Consult association to promote space tourism but also carry out a watch of the sector with the aim of laying the foundations...

Space tourism,’s growth blurs the line between scientific and symbolic achievement – a tourism scholar explains how

Space tourism is in an exploration phase – the decisions companies make around how to conduct these experiences now will set the tone moving forward.

Space Tourism’s Growth Blurs The Line Between Scientific And Symbolic Achievement – A Tourism Scholar Explains How - Stuff South Africa

On April 14, 2025, Blue Origin launched six women – Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sánchez – on a suborbital journey to the edge of space. The headlines called it a historic moment for women in space. But as a tourism educator, I paused – not because I questioned their experience, but because I questioned the language. Were they astronauts or space tourists? The distinction matters – not just for acc…