Image of an astronaut sunning in space with earth in the distance
Illustrations by Magictorch; Shutterstock.com (background)
Debate Essay Kit,

Your Next Vacation: Space?

People are spending big bucks to visit space. Would you want a ticket?

By the editors of Scope
From the May 2023 Issue
Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    This debate has a clear purpose: to present arguments for and against taking a trip to space as a tourist.
  • Structure
    The text is mostly informational. Points for and against space tourism are woven throughout the article.
  • Language Conventionality and Clarity
    Vocabulary: some challenging vocabulary (e.g., accessible, civilians, emissions) Conventionality: The language is mostly conventional.
Lexile: 920L
Featured Skill: Argument Writing,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.4, R.6, R.8, W.1, W.5, SL.1, L.4, L.5, L.6
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.4, RI.6.6, RI.6.8, W.6.1, W.6.5, SL.6.1, L.6.4, L.6.6
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.4, W.7.1, W.7.5, SL.7.1, L.7.4, L.7.6
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.4 ,RI.8.6, RI.8.8, W.8.1, SL.8.1, L.8.4, L.8.6
TEKS Standards
  • 1a, 1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, 8d, 8e, 8f, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 11c, 11d, 12d, 12f, 12g, 12h, 12i, 12j

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Tired of your regular vacation spots? Looking for some adventure? Forget about that trip to Six Flags. Book a trip to space!

That’s right. Today anyone with a craving for adventure and a boatload of cash can buy a ticket on a private spaceship. Companies like Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic offer passengers such space-age thrills as blasting off from the planet at high speeds, floating in low gravity, and taking in dazzling views of Earth that previously only astronauts (and perhaps aliens) could see. 

If rockets aren’t your speed, soon you’ll be able to buy a ticket—for $50,000—for World View’s space balloon. It will gently lift passengers 100,000 feet into the air, high enough to see the curve of Earth. The first voyage is scheduled for next year.

Want to enjoy the comforts of home on your space trip? In 2027, Orbital Assembly plans to open a space hotel for tourists—with cozy sleeping quarters and a gourmet restaurant. 

Many people are excited by the rise of this so-called “space tourism.” They envision a future in which the wonders of space are as accessible as those of a national park. Thousands of people are already on wait-lists for future trips. But not everyone is on board. Critics say the risks far outweigh the thrills. 

Is space tourism a dazzling advancement for humanity? Or a disaster waiting to happen?

Epic Thrills

Illustration by Magictorch

Like climbing Mount Everest, taking a trip to space puts a person in an exclusive club of adventurers. So far, only about 620 people have been to space, nearly all of them highly trained astronauts. However, in the age of space tourism, it will be increasingly possible for civilians to leave Earth. 

Tourists will experience forces of motion far more extreme than those of the most terrifying roller coasters. Indeed, a trip to space comes with epic thrills that can’t be experienced anywhere else. Blue Origin passengers, for example, blast off at 2,200 miles per hour—nearly four times the speed of a commercial jet. As the force of Earth’s gravity fades, passengers can unbuckle their seat belts and experience the magic of weightlessness. And the view is breathtaking: our blue planet, lit up against the dark expanse of space. 

Many astronauts say the view from space made them appreciate Earth in a deeper way. Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, said, “I marveled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty—not destroy it.” 

Could space tourism make us all better citizens of the world? Could it inspire us to take better care of the planet? It’s certainly possible.

Steep Costs

Illustration by Magictorch

On the other hand, space tourism could carry a steep environmental cost. Emissions from airplanes contribute significantly to climate change. Scientists are still assessing the environmental impacts of space tourism, but some worry that if it gets popular, all the rockets and spacecraft taking off could cause a lot of damage.  

Space travel also comes with safety risks. Over the past 60 years, about 30 astronauts have died during missions or while training for them. Space tourism companies may boast the latest in safety features, but when it comes to space travel, even a small malfunction can be catastrophic. Plus, space is hard on the body. Low gravity weakens the immune system. After returning from space, many astronauts have caught colds and other infections. 

But the biggest criticism of space tourism? The price. Virgin Galactic charges each passenger $450,000 for a 90-minute flight. Last April, three people paid $55 million each to SpaceX for a weeklong trip. For many, it’s hard to fathom spending that kind of money when there are so many needs right here on Earth. 

Space tourism companies argue their work does more than offer an expensive joyride to a select few. They say the technology they develop will be used to advance space exploration. For example, a rocket created to launch tourists into space could help astronauts reach Mars one day. 

Plus, space tourism may get less expensive over time. After all, when cars first appeared in the late 1800s, only the very wealthy could afford them. Now they are everywhere. It’s possible that in the future, space tourism could become affordable too—although scientists believe we are a long way off from that.  

So what do you think? If you had the chance, would you go?

What does your class think?

Will Your Next Vacation be in Space?

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What Do You Think?

If you had the chance to go to space as a tourist, would you?

Go back to the article to find arguments that support each side of the debate. Write the information you find on a piece of paper. You can use this information in an argument essay on this topic.

This article was originally published in the May 2023 issue.

Audio ()
Activities (10)
Reference
Skill-Building Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Audio ()
Activities (10)
Reference
Skill-Building Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

1. PREPARING TO READ

Project the Vocabulary and Definitions handout and preview the vocabulary. 

2. READING AND TEXT MARKING

  • Read the article once as a class. 
  • On your whiteboard, model text marking as students mark their magazines: Use a red-colored pencil to underline details that support the “Yes” side of the debate. 
  • Have students work in groups to underline details that support the “No” side of the debate, this time with a blue-colored pencil.

3. DISCUSSING AUTHOR BIAS

Have students discuss the following in their groups: Does the writer show bias—that is, a preference for one side of the debate or the other? How do you know?

4. DOING THE ACTIVITY

Have students fill in the “Yes/No” chart in their magazines using the strongest details that they underlined in the text.

5. DEBATING

Invite students to debate the topic at hand. Encourage them to use text evidence to support their opinions.

6. WRITING

  • Have students complete the Guided Writing: Argument Essay activity sheet and write their essays. 
  • Students should revise their essays using the Argument-Essay Checklist.
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