Peggy Whitson Discusses the Realistic Future of Space Tourism with Axiom Space

Peggy Whitson, a seasoned astronaut with an impressive list of accomplishments, recently shared her thoughts on the future of space exploration in an interview with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly. Whitson, who recently led the Ax-2 mission with three paying crew members, believes that more widely available space tourism is not only realistic but also an exciting prospect for the future.

Whitson highlighted the changing landscape of space exploration, noting that a mix of public and private money will play a significant role in shaping the industry. She mentioned Axiom Space, the company she now works for, which is involved in building spacesuits for NASA astronauts and plans to build the first commercial space station attached to the International Space Station.

The astronaut also expressed optimism about the possibility of more people being able to travel to space in the future. While she acknowledged that cost may be a barrier initially, she drew parallels to the development of commercial aviation and expressed confidence that commercial spaceflight will follow a similar trajectory.

Whitson emphasized that the goals of space missions will vary depending on the individuals and countries involved. For the Ax-2 mission, the crew had a mix of private and government-sponsored astronauts, each with their own objectives ranging from STEM outreach to inspiring youth in their respective countries.

Overall, Whitson’s insights shed light on the evolving landscape of space exploration and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for space tourism. With companies like Axiom Space leading the way, the future of space travel looks promising and accessible to a wider range of people.