Its been a momentous month for space-faring billionaires.
Both flights created an avalanche of media coverage and brand recognition for Bransons Virgin Galactic and Bezoss Blue Origin.
This year marks 60 years since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.
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Unlike their predecessors, Bransons and Bezos flights were suborbital they didnt reach the velocity needed to orbit Earth.
Bezoss entire flight lasted just over 10 minutes.
You expect a luxurious interior when you pay this much.
But before you sign up assuming youre lucky enough to afford it here are a few things to consider.
Where does space start, anyway?
Conveniently for Branson, 80km has beenproposedby some experts as an appropriate boundary.
Outer space is undeniably influenced by Earthly geopolitics.
Will you be an astronaut?
The1967 UN Outer Space Treatydesignates astronauts as envoys of (hu)mankind in outer space.
Of course, these legal niceties wont deter space tourism companies from awarding astronaut wings to their passengers.
What laws apply when things go wrong?
The1986 Challengerand2003 Columbiashuttle disasters are stark reminders of the dangers of space travel.
Human space travel has always involved determining acceptable levels of risk for trained astronauts.
What activities should be allowed in space?
The advent of space tourism will give rise to some interesting ethical questions.
Should there be advertising billboards in space?
What about casinos, or brothels?
On what legal basis should these things be restricted?
Will space tourism harm the environment?
We will need to manage space traffic carefully to avoid disastrous collisions and steer clear ofspace debris.
NASA
Will tourism workers have to live in space?
If space tourism does become truly widespread, it will need infrastructure and perhaps even staff.
What legal rights would someone have if they were born at a Moon base?
Would they be subject to terrestrial laws, or some version of current international legal rules for outer space?
These are obviously questions for the future.
Outer space is the new frontier, but it is not and must not be a lawless one.
