Future of space

Having already seen the Earth from space, German astronaut Thomas Reiter said it's a view he thinks more people are going to be - and should be - enjoying in the near future.

"I really hope that space tourism progresses as quickly as possible, because I am absolutely convinced that if more people could have this view, the better for life on earth," he said, referring to the commercialization of space.

Reiter acknowledged the large "technical challenges" and security issues facing such an ambitious plan, but said this does not change his hope that the program will progress more quickly.

With everyone from Russian millionaires to American pop stars - such as singer Lance Bass from the 90's boy band N'sync - travelling to space, there appears to be no boundaries to the future of private space travel. It is still unknown how much space travel would cost, and whether it could be made affordable for the average person.

Eventually humans would get a longer view of the Earth from a station or base on the Moon, Reiter said.

"I have no doubt that humans will return to the moon. Not for just a little while like in the Apollo missions, but for weeks and months."

A moon base, he says, would not be manned by a permanent crew, but by crews on a time frame.

As for when the plan will be implemented, the 51-year-old says he doubts the target date of 2019 - 50 years after the first moon landing - will be reached, but "certainly at the beginning of the next decade."

Mars Landing in Sight?

It is not inconceivable to think that a moon base could facilitate trips to Mars. A main concern with such a trip would be ensuring the human body could withstand the lack of muscle use in the mean time.

"Even though I believe humans are not designed for it, I'm sure humans can adapt to it [long space flight], even on such a lengthy mission like to Mars. From today's planning that would take two and a half years," Reiter said.

The reason for the delay in setting these lofty but achievable plans into motion is a lack of funding; getting such an elaborate plan off the ground will require both political support and funding.

At this point in time, it is conceivable to reach Mars within the 2030-2040 timeframe, but preparations and political funding for such a project would have to start within the next five or six years, and it would take a lot of planning.

Reiter, who spent his childhood dreaming of becoming an astronaut like Neil Armstrong, has very high expectations for both technology and humanity in the future.

He especially hopes that the relationship between different countries and peoples will improve when they are finally able to peer down at our beautiful planet from above.

"It definitely helps me on various occasions during daily life," Reiter says. "I think back to this view especially when I read the newspaper or [watch] TV, then these pictures reappear and I think 'Why is it so difficult to get a long with each other?'"


Author: Genevieve Baer
Editor: Andreas Illmer