One of the items in my bucket list is to go to space before I die. I am sure many, if not most people, would like to do the same. Ever since I was a child, I have loved to look up at the night sky and wonder about the limitless worlds ‘out there’.

I also wanted to be a space traveller and explore as much of the universe as possible in my spaceship but growing up, I realized how far behind we are to achieving that dream. But still, even if I get to visit space once, that would be good enough for me.

The pace of progress in this particular field has been remarkably slow compared to other fields. After the initial excitement surrounding the moon landings, it sort of faded away. But in the last decade or so, thanks to the efforts of private enterprises, we are finally back on track.

Many corporations and governments of the world are now actively working to expand our presence in the cosmos and within our lifetime, space tourism could become a common thing among us earthlings. Even talking about this fills me up with excitement. Can you imagine all the cool things we’d be able to do when space tourism becomes a reality?

1. Stay At A Space Hotel

You thought staying at a hotel on the 100th floor was cool? Wait till we have space hotels! That even sounds cool, doesn’t it? Imagine hotels orbiting the Earth or the moon or even Mars one day and you could stay a night or two while taking in the full view.

That’s the stuff dreams are made of! It might sound like sci-fi but would it surprise you if I told you that Bigelow Aerospace, a space company, is planning to launch two inflatable space habitats by as early as 2021?

These space habitats will be revolving around the Earth in a low-Earth orbit and each will be capable of housing up to six people. Right now they are not meant for use as space hotels but the natural progression of things might lead to that reality soon enough.

2. Take A Trip To The Moon and Beyond

Leaving the Earth’s atmosphere and being able to watch the Earth in its entirety, would be a view that you would remember till the day you die, for sure. The people who have been up there tell us that it is just something else. Something that cannot be put into words.

Now, imagine not only being able to do that but also to be able to orbit around the Moon and witnessing a totally alien world that we have only ever seen glowing from Earth.

In a more distant future (and if Elon Musk gets his way), we might also, within our lifetimes, get to orbit around Mars and witness first hand the beginnings of a new home for human civilization, and us becoming an interplanetary species. What else could be grander than that?

3. Set Foot On An Alien World

While it would be an unforgettable experience to take an orbital trip around the Moon or Mars in itself, being able to land on their surface, and staying there for a few days would just be magical.

I don’t know whether or not this will be possible within our lifetime, from a space tourism standpoint, but I’m sure that one day it will. Even here on Earth, as airplanes and ships began becoming more common, people from one part of the world started visiting other parts. Something that they must have never dreamed of doing.

Similarly, I see us humans visiting these other heavenly bodies one day and it will one day be as common as taking a flight to another country. What a time would that be to be alive! Future generations could have conversations like, “Yo! Wanna take a trip to Mars? ….. Sure bro! Let’s do it tomorrow.”