Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk's space adventures aren't a waste of cash, says UN space chief

Billions ploughed into space trips for superrich will benefit exploration

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are both exploring the realm of space tourism. Photo: AFP/ Getty Images

Space tourism has a lot of positives and can help inspire humanity to protect their planet, says UN space chief Simonetta Di Pippo.

The director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Ms Di Pippo said increased access to space would make it 'a part of our lives'.

The comments were made days after Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, suggested saving the Earth should come before space tourism. He told the BBC: “Great brains and minds should be trying to repair this planet, not trying to find the next place to go and live”.

Ms Di Pippo, who was visiting the Italian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on Monday, told The National that space tourism could benefit humanity in many ways.

“It's really the attempt of bringing space closer to humanity and humanity closer to space.

"Space would become something that’s outside, dark, cold and far away, but part of our lives."

The New Shepard rocket carrying 'Star Trek' actor William Shatner launches from West Texas on October 13, 2021. AFP

The New Shepard launch was the rocket's second manned voyage into space. AFP

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is being prepared for mission NS-18 in October 2021. Reuters

New Shepard NS-18 mission crew member William Shatner rings the bell before lift-off. Accompanying the 'Star Trek' actor are Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, in rear, and crew members Chris Boshuizen, front, the co-founder of Planet Labs, and Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations, Audrey Powers. The fourth member of the crew, who is not pictured, is Medidata Solutions co-founder Glen de Vries. AFP

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is prepared for mission NS-18 in a still image from video. Reuters

The New Shepard NS-18 mission flight team, Audrey Powers, William Shatner and Glen de Vries ride to the launchpad. AFP

Staff monitor Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket as it is prepared for mission NS-18. Reuters

Onlookers assemble to watch the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket blast off. Reuters

Members of the media gather before Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts off from the launchpad. AFP

Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries, Audrey Powers and William Shatner are presented with commemorative coins before their suborbital flight. Reuters

The New Shepard rocket sits at the launchpad. AFP

From left: Chris Boshuizen, William Shatner, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries. Their launch is Blue Origin’s second passenger flight, using the same capsule and rocket that Jeff Bezos used for his own trip in July 2021. AP

Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts off from the launchpad carrying 90-year-old 'Star Trek' star William Shatner and three other civilians near Van Horn, Texas. AFP

The capsule of Blue Origin’s New Shepard mission NS-18 is surrounded by ground crew after landing by parachute near Van Horn, Texas, in a still image captured from video. Reuters

Billionaire Jeff Bezos gives a thumbs-up outside the capsule of Blue Origin’s New Shepard mission NS-18 after it landed by parachute near Van Horn, Texas. Reuters

Billionaire Jeff Bezos welcomes the four passengers on Blue Origin’s New Shepard mission NS-18 after landing near Van Horn, Texas. Reuters

Jeff Bezos, third left, greets Canadian actor William Shatner as he emerges from the capsule after landing near Van Horn, Texas, on October 13. The mission carried Shatner, Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations, and customers Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries. EPA

William Shatner, who at 90 years of age became the oldest person to travel to space, discusses the suborbital flight with Jeff Bezos. EPA

William Shatner and Jeff Bezos after New Shepard's NS-18 mission. EPA

Recovery crews reach the New Shepard NS-18 mission capsule after landing on October 13. 'Star Trek' actor Shatner went where no nonagenarian has been before. AFP

The moment of lift-off as William Shatner and his fellow travellers aboard the New Shepard headed for a brief visit to space. EPA

On October 13, Star Trek actor William Shatner became the oldest person to go into space aboard a Blue Origin tourism flight.

Richard Branson and Elon Musk are also working on businesses that would take humans to space recreationally.

When asked about space tourism flights by billionaires Ms Di Pippo said she sees a lot of positives to the progress being made in space exploration, and that it will allow people to look back on Earth and recognise its fragility.

“So, we have to work a lot in terms of the sustainability in space, but also on earth. We have [to] try and work on issues related to climate and help the planet survive in the best way possible.

“We can really improve the quality of life for people on Earth, thanks to space.

"I believe that if we have more and more people experiencing what space means, it can also help in policy and decision-making processes towards supporting space.”

Science experiments could also become a regular part of space tourism flights.

Sirisha Bandla, an aeronautical engineer, took a plant experiment with her when she flew on board a Virgin Galactic space tourism flight in July.

The experiment helped to measure how well passengers would be able to perform scientific activities during the 90-minute flight.

“Bandla will activate three plant-filled tubes to release a preservative at critical data-collection stages during the flight: at 1g (Earth gravity level) before the rocket boost, just before entering microgravity, and after the conclusion of microgravity,” Nasa said.

Ms Di Pippo also believes space tourism could help inspire people to create more spin-off technologies.

With countries investing billions in space exploration, 'The National' looks at 10 inventions on Earth made possible because of space research and technology. Courtesy: US space agency Nasa

After Nasa used red LED to grow plants during the Space Shuttle missions, the technology became part of a two-year clinical trials that found that the light reduced painful side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatment in bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients. The WARP 75 medical device became commercially available in 2009. Courtesy: Nasa

Nasa’s technology transfer programme helped one company create invisible braces. In 1989, It worked with Ceradyne Inc to develop translucent polycrustalline alumina, a ceramic that is stronger than steel. Nasa originally used it as a protection tool for infrared antennae on missile trackers. Courtesy: Nasa

In the 1960s, Nasa invented an electrolytic silver ion generator to purify water on the Apollo missions. The technology electronically released silver and copper ions into the water, which helped neutralise bacteria and viruses, and then filtered it. Courtesy: Nasa

A team at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) invented the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor active-pixel sensor in the 1990s – a type of image sensor that improved picture quality using a tiny camera. The same team formed a company called Photobit. By 2000, they had shipped one million sensors, which were used in web cameras, dental radiography and automotive applications. Stock image

After Nasa invented infrared technology to measure the temperature of stars, a company called Diatek partnered with the space agency in 1991 to use the tech in thermometers. The creation helped measure the temperature inside the eardrum. Courtesy: Nasa

Salmonella bacteria was flown to space in hopes to create a vaccine. The Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine was developed, but was never distributed to public. Scientists, however, are adding on to the existing research to produce a vaccine. Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg

Commonly known as the space blanket, Mylar was invented in the 1950s to protect Nasa’s space crafts from the sun’s heat. Now, the aluminum-coated plastic material, which traps and reflects heat, is used in nearly all space crafts, satellites and for those with hypothermia. Courtesy: Nasa

Nasa invented wireless headsets in the 1950s for astronauts, but they did not become popular until Neil Armstrong used them during the 1969 Moon landing. The headset was called the MS-50 and was developed by Plantronics within 11 days in partnership with Nasa. Courtesy: Nasa

Aeronautical engineer Charles Yost created memory foam in partnership with Nasa while trying to develop comfortable airline seating. The soft material was also used during the Space Shuttle era and is now widely available in the form of mattresses, pillows and rugs. Courtesy: Nasa

In the 1990s, Nasa researchers accidently discovered how to make baby formula more nutritious. They found that some algae contains fatty acids that are also in human breast milk, specifically docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. The researchers went on to work for Martek Biosciences Corporation, which developed and manufactured the vegetable oil-like ingredient called Formulaid. EPA

Space research and tech have helped advance many vital sectors, particularly in medicine and science.

From vaccine development and purifying water to improving baby formula, space technologies and research have been a huge benefit to life on Earth.

Since 1976, Nasa has recorded more than 2,000 space-related projects that have been commercialised and brought to the market.

These include creations such as invisible braces, water purification systems, ear thermometers and wireless headphones.

“The number of satellites that each of us is using every day is really huge - when we check the weather in the morning, access the Global Navigation Satellite Systems to move from point A to point B, develop smart agricultural procedures, do telemedicine or biodiversity – everything [involves] space,” said Ms Di Pippo.