After helping billions of people plan their trips around the world, Tripadvisor is ready to do the same for those looking to travel beyond the planet.
“Space destinationPresented by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), is a new subsection of Tripadvisor that focuses on spacial tourism and exploration.
“Everyone deserves to experience the wonders of space, with or without a rocket,” It reads on the Tripadvisor website“That's why our mission is to help curious travelers from all corners of the Earth explore this lesser-known part of Our universe.”
“From reviews from real-life astronauts to out-of-this-world family trips that let your imagination soar, we're making space more accessible than ever before,” the site reads.
Much like the terrestrial version of Tripadvisor, where travelers can read about others' experiences before booking for themselves, “Destination Space” publishes the comments of previous space tourists, including Victor Vescovo and Marty Allen, who flew in Blue origin New Shepard is set to launch in 2022.
Related: New Shepard: rocket for space tourism
However, the first full review on Tripadvisor about the “space” is offered by Sian Proctorwho in 2021 became the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft in SpaceX Inspiration4 commercial missionShe did not pay for her seat, but instead obtained it through a flight sponsor.
“The atmosphere was out of this world!” Proctor enthused, giving the “location” (Earth's orbit) a five out of five. “We were 360 miles (585 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, higher than Earth's surface.” International Space Stationso we could see a large section of the planet surrounded by the darkness of space.”
Proctor had dreamed of being an astronaut since childhood, so it's no surprise that she was equally excited about almost every other detail of her trip, from her mode of transportation and food to the environment and the amenities.
“We had iPhones and iPads, which allowed us to document our scientific experiments, capture special moments, listen to music, watch a movie (my favorite is “Contact“) before falling asleep and of course taking the best selfies from space!” she shared in her review.
In fact, Proctor only gave one part of his flight a rating of less than five points out of five. He rated the cleanliness on board the plane. Crew Dragon spacecraft, which he shared with four other people for three days.
“We did a great job of keeping our capsule tidy. There are compartments to hold just about everything,” she wrote, giving it a four out of five rating. “The only issue was our water bottles – each bottle had a small velcro dot that was used to stick the water bottle to the wall of the capsule, but they would often come loose and float around everywhere.”
“Space destination“It differs from the main Tripadvisor site in that it does not provide the tools to book flights to space, nor does it compare prices between services offered by SpaceXVirgin Galactic, Blue Origin and others. The site provides a link to POTHowever, NASA's website can be of great help in locating the International Space Station when it passes overhead.
Visitors can also find suggestions for ground-based space experiences, such as visiting the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. United States Space and Rocket Center in Alabama and NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor complex in Florida.
But outer space is the real focus, Proctor says.
“I highly recommend that everyone go to space. There is nothing more magical or more amazing than floating in space while being bathed in the light of Earth,” she says. “When you go, ask for a minimum of five days. Three days is too little!”
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