Space Tourism

            The Virgin Galactic Spaceship Two plummeted about 10 miles to earth on October 31^st, 2014 after it broke apart in midair.  The crash killed the co-pilot Mike Alsbury and left the captain Peter siebold severely injured but alive.  After doing some research, I found that crash seemed to result from pilot error.  The aircrafts moveable wings were set in a position close to Mach 1, which caused the airplane to break apart and fall out of the sky.

            Space tourism is an idea to commercially take people up into space and tour it.  Space tourism is right around the corner for the U.S. even though the Virgin Galactic Spaceship Two crashed.  The problem will be resolved eventually and flights into space commercially for people will be here before we know it. 

            After searching for space tourism regulations I could not find much accept that on the FAA website there are mentions of vehicle operators, safety related information, medical qualifications for crew and passengers, and life support systems.

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/human_space_flight_reqs/

            I see space tourism being a reality for the American public in the near future, by 2020 perhaps.  I think it will completely accessible to the American public eventually, but obviously not right away.  Plenty more test flights will be done before that happens I believe. 

            Qualifications to work in the space tourism industry from a pilot’s perspective are the pilot to have a bachelor’s degree and have some experience under his belt in flying jet powered aircraft of at least 1000 hours PIC.  I believe these are bare minimums like anything else and the amount of highly qualified pilots applying will leave the standard higher than this I believe.