"The Door to Space Tourism Has Opened"...The View of Earth They Saw [Reading Science]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "Only a few have come now, but many more will follow. The door is now open, and it's truly unbelievable."

This was the reaction of billionaire Jared Isaacman, the commander of humanity's first fully private space tourism mission, Inspiration4, immediately after reaching orbit. Isaacman and three other private space tourists boarded the Crew Dragon aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket at 8:02 PM on the 15th and settled into an orbit approximately 580 km above Earth. Traveling at over 22 times the speed of sound, they are circling the Earth for three days, carrying out their "space tourism" itinerary.

The passengers can simultaneously view Earth and space through a large dome-shaped window (Cupola) specially modified by SpaceX for this trip. It is a scaled-down version of the iconic window installed on the International Space Station (ISS) and is located just above the restroom at the very front of the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Space-focused media Space.com reported, "Through this window, passengers can enjoy breathtaking sights such as 15 sunsets and sunrises every day while orbiting Earth."

The schedule for their return to Earth remains flexible depending on weather conditions. They are expected to land as early as the 18th or 19th. However, the Crew Dragon spacecraft they are aboard is equipped with supplies and various equipment to stay for up to about a week in case of severe weather or other contingencies.

They are not just enjoying tourism. During approximately six months of training starting in April, the passengers were trained to conduct scientific and medical tests and research that can only be performed in space. While onboard, they are measuring ultrasound, blood oxygen levels, pulse, and heart rate monitoring to study the effects of weightlessness or microgravity on the human body. The data they collect is shared with researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.

SpaceX tweeted, "All passengers are healthy, happy, and resting comfortably. The crew completed 5.5 orbits around Earth just before going to sleep, finished scientific research, and had two meals." They added, "When the crew wakes up today, they will conduct additional scientific research and enjoy the first views through the Cupola." They also noted, "The Crew Dragon capsule is maintaining its planned orbit at an altitude of about 590 km above Earth's surface."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.