The success of Blue Origin's space tourism flights has caused concerns among the public. Many say it is a rich person's game that is unnecessary when Earth badly needs help.
For Jane Smith, co-founder of Space View, the industry is not preventing Earth from help, but helping its residents better understand their world.
"Space exploration has played an important role in forming our understanding of our planet," Smith said in an interview. "The most downloaded image in history is Earthrise that was taken in 1968 by Apollo astronauts as they circled the moon. Taking the photo was not on their schedule of activities but they were so struck by the scene that they rushed to record it. That one photograph helped humanity see Earth as a planet in space, and inspired an environmental movement."
Space View, founded in 2019, is a firm using a giant balloon to send humans into the stratosphere (平流层). It is designing a luxurious capsule (豪华太空舱) that fits six passengers, who can relax in seats or enjoy a snack while flying 20 miles above Earth.
Smith explained that eventually, millions of people will have exciting space experience. Tickets for a ride through Space View currently run $125,000 a seat, but Smith said the "long-term vision is to bring the price down significantly". "A ticket price of, say, $30,000—$840,000 would make the space trip affordable to many millions of people," she added.
When asked about the public comments, Smith answered, "When people visit space and experience our Earth from that fantastic point, they connect deeply with our planet and the singular human family that inhabits it. It broadens their perspective (视角) and they return with a deepened understanding of social and environmental causes."
