Space Tourism

I think that Dennis Tito is just one of many Rich people to come that
will to travel to space. Just like every other aspect of our
life, the rich will dominate space. Tito may just have unwittingly started
a trend.

NASA tried to stop Tito, but NASA couldn't. Tito had padded too many
pockets. NASA and the international space community may not allow other
rich people to use the International Space station as a playground, but
the box is open. They let one. Others with the economic means will
surely be launching themselves into orbit. I am sure there is more than
one "Rocket-man" building an orbital vehicle in a garage.
Even if there is a no trespassing sign on the space station, it is the
only place to go.

If the international community wants to control space tourism or make
it safer, the community should make a tiny space hotel next to the
international space station. With a tiny fare of $5,000,000 USD -
$20,000,000, for a one week journey, the international community could
then finance other space projects.

I would rather have money go in space than have it corrupt normally honest
Russian officials. For every Tito, there are 10,000 more Tito-like rich
that now are thinking that space will be a future holiday. Why not take the
money from these future space tourists and build better things.
If somebody doesn't, Russian officials will be simply watching their
off-shore accounts get bigger and bigger.