 When we think of some leisurely activities, we often think about travelling to mountains, beaches, forests, etc. etc. But do you know that a new dimension has been added to this? Which is the space? Yes, you heard that right. Space tourism is the newest form of tourism basically for people who want an out of the world experience. So those visits to space which were earlier limited to scientific discoveries have now become a new marketplace for people. So whether this space tourism is relevant or not is what we are going to debate about on this edition of School of Thought. So we have with us today two groups of students. One who called themselves Light Years Ahead believe that space tourism is a bold adventure and is relevant enough and the others call the cosmic watchdogs who find no relevance of space tourism and call it an irresponsible extravagance. So I request the team Light Years Ahead to open this debate. Space tourism, the ability to draw some finest minds into the space. The instinct to explore is the right of humans. And some of our most amazing achievements has taken place in space. The development of technology such as miniaturization have led to the development of microchips. So what is your opinion on this? So while exploration in space definitely leads to an advancement in technology, but in order to get to that level of advancement is it really necessary for us to indulge in this irresponsible extravagance that is space tourism? Because as we all know that space tourism while it can be a great activity for some, however it has very serious environmental hazards associated with it. Taking examples from the real life existing companies, there are certain mafric companies like SpaceX or Blue Origin. They are focusing on innovating new technologies and ideas which are cost effective and also they are more sustainable. Now talking about the environmental damage, there are certain fuels which are sustainable. Like the Virgin Galactic Company has recently innovated a renewable fuel which is HTPB. In 2019 NASA's GIPCM mission, it focused on innovating fuels which are high performance giving and also less environment damage givers. At the same time I believe there could also be innovations of reusable spacecrafts. SpaceX Falcon 9 is a spacecraft which is a zero carbon neutral emission spacecraft. So if we focus on taking help from energies which are more renewable like rockets which are based on solar energy, we can reduce the environmental impact. One thing I would like to share here is you are talking about the fuels that are less damaging to the environment. But the focus is not about going to the space, it's about the manufacturing of the spaceship as well. Because the manufacturing possess a lot of pollutants are released into the air. So what are your thoughts about that? I would want you to not think of it as an exploitation, think of it as an investment for the future. Had we not worked in the field of internet 50 years back, we would not have been able to come where we are. So basically we are using resources so that in the future we don't have such type of problems. So we are already suffering from environmental issues. Recently Yamuna flood also occurred because of the damage we have done. You just said about the manufacturing of the internet. So when we already have so much damage, why to increase it? Let's first work on decreasing it. The thing is if we talk about decreasing the damage, the space industry is in a very nascent stage. So your concern of resources exploitation and creating damage is not immediate concern. What I would suggest is that the already pollution causing industries restrict them a little. Their enforcement allows them to do better rather than restricting the innovative experiences. What's it? While that's true and it's obviously a good attempt to try some sustainable practices when it comes to sustainable tourism. But however let's bring into the picture the other global present issues that we have. Why not put those resources over there instead of indulging in tourism from now on. And we already have space exploration programs which are there for the innovation part. So tourism is more of a leisure activity I would say. And I'd like to add the point that we already have caused a major amount of damage to the environment. So I don't think we can afford to damage it even further. It might be that space tourism may cause damage in the future. But it is also true that if we don't stop it today, we won't be able to stop it tomorrow instead. But don't you think that stopping it today is equivalent to stopping the kind of development and the kind of endless possibilities the space and the universe holds? In my opinion space exploration is the answer to your point. Space exploration is meant for development not space tourism. The thing is space tourism is not just people wearing floral shirts and going to enjoy leisure. A part is a major part but leisure is not the only part of space tourism. Space tourism also carries minds who are passionate and enthusiastic about the space to go and delve deeper, watch it closely. Like you're watching Earth from the space and it's not just watching. You might notice something, you might actually be of help to the researchers there. What will happen then? How will be the help for researchers? I mean how are they going to help researchers? The thing being ma'am you are not going there as novice people. There is a certain amount of training, basic training that goes into taking you to the program. You more than an asset are in a place, no more than a liability are an asset to the program itself. But that training is used to allow you to assimilate and acclimate to that environment that is in space. That is not supposed to teach you how to point out things that can help in scientific research. Exactly, scientists are going there for that matter only. So why do we need common people to go there? What's the need? The thing is ma'am human resource I believe is like the most important and the best resource. And you know curiosity is a driving factor which is much more than I don't know, pay scale of you know I believe somebody who's curious and somebody is good at something. Somebody's curious would do a much better job than somebody who's just good at it. But don't you think that we have more pressing issues on earth currently right now than we are going to space tourism. For example, if a child is watching in the sky in the evening and she thinks what's going on in the sky. And only then comes a joke of the wind. When she looks around she sees many miles away a space rocket going. Those people are being taken away from here. Now there are a few questions here. For example, does the Earth's majority of the Earth's population is removed from the need that our first duty is not to make a better life for the people on Earth. For example, for the funds that we are investing in space tourism if we achieve sustainable development goals instead of that such as poverty, gender inequality and less education if we channel them in this place then we can benefit a lot. For example, India alone 3% of the fund is used for space exploration and 0.35% is used for poverty. And the population of India is the most in the world. So according to me, the first concern should not be that the people here we should do a better life for them rather than for leisure activities or for a broader view in space. Let's just say that you are talking about space exploration. Look at the industry. Right now it is so small that the amount of jobs creation is not so much. If that industry expands then indirectly you don't think there will be more employment which will lead to less poverty, more job employment, gender equality because your sustainable development goals will kind of achieve. But you are countering him with the point of space exploration here and space exploration is already happening and they are in favour of it it is happening through scientists and everyone. But you are talking about space tourism. So how is that relevant and what is the need of the are in that scenario? We view as an industry. So job creation, employment, poverty will be less. More women are going to be employed so the sustainable development goals of gender equality will be achieved. And think of it as an inspiration. The people like I am a space enthusiast. There are so many people like me who don't know what possibilities are there. So if we show them from a different lens or perspective then don't you think more people will be interested in careers related to STEM so quality education justifies matching the resources from a field that raise it more than space tourism. Even in employability those people who will work in the industry they will need a lot of education and education is not there yet so education is not there yet. Good point. And also we all know what is the behaviour of tourists are we sending them there what is the responsibility that they will not export the space. So you take on all three points. I won't. So I like to tackle tourists first. You are not space tourists are not just tourists. You are giving them a set of rules and regulations they have to follow. They are responsible individuals. Talking about resources. Resources was your point. You are not snatching away anything from anyone. Now look at space tourism you are countering saying that resources are not there resources are not for mining industry reduce it. Pollution chemicals you are releasing it in the rivers reduce it. This is an innovative thing. You should be skeptical about it. I am not saying. But say that it is just not justifiable it is just unnecessary extravagance. I don't think that makes sense. But you said that this generates employment right but how does that employment justify the use of the land that has been used for launch pads? Like what if we use that land to set up industries whose pros and cons and administration we have already figured out and we don't have that many doubts about it and we are not unclear on that how about we use that land for those industries inside of such a sunrise industry? For example if government is taking that land so government will provide schemes but if they are a private organisation they may exploit the people who are owning that land. Right, that is one of the what do I say? That is one of the suggestions we have. As an industry becomes upcoming so the government interferences in everything. We are talking about subsidising the space missions and everything that's what we will tackle about that and you are equating land to employment if you imagine that the land is barren and there is no use of agricultural land and there are launch pads which are already being used rather than creating more so definitely we can discuss and come to common grounds about it but saying that it is a threat to employment in the life of people Land acquisition is one part of it but education has made a very good point here about education I would like you to repeat yourself again on that and then I want your take on that please. You said that employment if employment will be created because if space tourism is expanded but in order to work in such a big company like Space X or Blue Origin there is so much education to go into NASA that even after passing IIT people are not getting a job and in India where there are so many people in the billow poverty line there is not so much education so if there is no education then how will they work in big companies? What it means is that people are not fully aware of this concept of space tourism tourism for that matter is not available to everyone because of the economic situation financial background and everything but when it comes to space tourism people are not that informed they are not well educated they are not you know it is out of their bounds out of their reach it is a thing for the higher society only then how is it a need of the hour and you know how are you talking about country developing because of that you know in the answer point because when Vikram Sarabhai Dr. Homi J. Bhabha and Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam they initiated the Indian space program they were very enthusiastic about all this space exploration and all the possibilities the future generation could come up with and this is the possibility we are coming up with we are not saying man that this is the need of the hour we are talking about it as a bold adventure okay and right so since space tourism is in its initial stages till the time we will not expand till that time there will be no awareness there will be no increase right once the space tourism area will increase it will expand it will inspire the new generation for coming up towards the area of STEM and it will make new innovation and new innovative work force in our society that may help expand this area more better that too space exploration space exploration right how is space tourism however I think it is a very simple logic let the space tourism advance let it develop a little it is really in its initial stage it is nowhere it is very good that we are talking about the constant growth but let it boost up a little only then we can talk about self awareness and only then the point that you spoke about education education will be there when people will know that this is what it is and we have to contribute to it only then it is said by many organizations also for example science organization organization said that space tourism is not a waste of money it is just exploring it is to give opportunities innovation creativity okay great and also no one is going without risk mitigation procedures right so we have all the risk mitigation procedures which will be controlled virgin galactic we all know about the 2014 crash I don't think that we can ever forget it so what if something like that disastrous thing happens how would you justify that and like just like Sanushi said so we are ready to risk precious human life just to try we are ready to risk everyone's and as she said the people who are already interested the people who are going above they are given their consent they want to see what is above in the space wouldn't a scientist going to space be very much different and more beneficial for us than when a human being normally a human being let me suggest something now for every spaceship that goes for tourism if we increase the number of scientists because look it is directly proportional to the kind of interest you are creating in the society in the future there will be more children who want to become scientists so with every tourist spaceship you include scientists encourage them for research why not no one is saying no right initially let them start now you don't have a scientist who are willing to go to the space they are giving an initial exposure the ones who can afford it they are giving it they will talk about it they will PR and then you know there will be people who want to come up as scientists and then go research about it one step ahead and even when we were talking about that we were in the space if all the scientists went to the space then the exploration here will call it will call it will call it will call it will call it will call it will call it will call it will call it will call it may call it will call it will call it will call the She has studied very well, she has done everything. Chances, like this is an exceptional case, she will become a scientist. Who has complete knowledge, who has studied so much, why won't she become one? I want to know from you, speaking of curiosity, like she said and you guys are making a point that it creates, I mean it generates curiosity. Right, I think curiosity comes for things which are like non achievable or unreachable, you know, like then only because you know nothing about things. So then you are very curious of what it is. But with this space tourism, you are going to, you know, land everyone up in the space and then there will be no curiosity, so it is killing curiosity, not generating it, I believe. But I think it will start with this area, people will have first, will have curiosity, they will explore, they will spread their ideas about the space and that will help increase other, get knowledge about what. When everyone will land up there, then no one will land up there and then you start, that's what I am saying, common people, that's the practice. No, space tourism is for common people to land up there and explore the space, right? So when you are going to make this happen, then curiosity is killed. Curiosity is not killed, but curiosity leads to interest. Interest leads to, you know, you wanting to go work in that field, that is not killing curiosity, you are inspiring other people to do that. Inspiring to then work in that industry. Exactly. You are taking on that. When it comes to inspiration, so as compared to someone getting inspired by going into the space or we getting inspired from the space tourists, even they are more broader scaled or inspiration to the masses rather being provided by space programs of exploration such as NASA and ISRO. Moreover, you mentioned that, you know, with space tourists, we will send scientists. Then what is exactly the demarcation line between space tourism and space exploration? If we send scientists, so please explain this. Space tourism actually, what are they supposed to do over there? Space exploration is very technical. When you see, when you saw the latest lunar, our landing, that was so technical, I can't understand. Now I will look at it from a common man's lens. I will be able to, you know, the people who go there who know nothing as compared to the scientists and researchers. They will come and explain it to me in my terms, they will be able to PR it. It will increase awareness for them, it will increase excitement for them. In turn, creating a lot of different things, in turn, directly, indirectly, indirectly affecting the economy, affecting the development, affecting the globe itself. See, but what could be considered the PR and everything, but staying in the present time, someone who has been a tourist, as you said, who will come and, you know, talk about this. But for that, that person has to be a very rich person and how many such people do we add and how is he going to come and, you know, inspire us? How are we going to basically relate to that person? Isn't it again the funding point that we are explaining? Yeah, we are going to the funding point because that is the main concern now. Isn't there sort of like social disparity or disbalance being created because only the super, it's like a one-person population is going and they are creating so much at this time, environmental concerns for the rest of the 99% of the population. See, our pressure coming, yours will increase, who cut it? Can they justify it? Yeah, we will use simple basic two terms we are going to use, that is micro-financing and crowded funding. If these two things happen, then obviously, broader mass will get accessible. They will get access. So obviously, the more the industry grows, the more common people will get access. Let me, let me, let me. Demand for the safer, more efficient and cost-effective like pace tourism will lead to more innovations and technological advancement that may even affect like various areas such as aviation, transportation and material, you know, material science. Do you really think this space tourism industry will be like economically sustained in long-term also? Exactly. Like initially, we are saying that funding should be given. Okay, then after that, the government will intervene. So don't you think it will be lying on governments? Subsidies and capital. I think if you are saying it's a game for ultra rich in the beginning. Yeah. I think it's a way of paying the capital. Okay. You were talking about how government should not do the fundings. If we send ordinary people up, then the government will have to support and subsidize them. But then it's for leisure activity. Government is not responsible for your leisure activity. It's responsible for space exploration in which it has already invested a lot. And I support that. They should invest even more in it. Now, so the space tourism can be like space tourism revenue can be reinvested in the space-related research work. And that will help us understand the universe in a better manner. Which is obviously starting to be perfect. You said the internet social media. It took time to develop. But the point is just like you mentioned that it needs to be developed. But to say, at what point of time history should we start developing it? Why don't we have other global issues? You are saying that your industry will grow. It will take time to grow. We will invest in it. That's the point. So how will we do it? I have already said that. So that way she is very good point. Today I have said that we don't develop the industry of space tourism. Now tell me where will you get the other education? Our industry is not developing. Now tell me where are you getting the education? Space tourism is not going. If your industry is not there. If your industry is not there. Then the government will not invest. So we will pull the money to invest here. Okay. You are moving on. You are going on to different directions. So why Samabha? So throughout the time we have been debating. The main thing is that this industry is coming. And now it takes time to develop it. Correct. So that is again. However the point that we are trying to make over here is that as long as it develops, as long as it becomes sustainable, as long as it reaches masses, it will be affordable and everything. At that time, the people who are able to afford it, that is the super rich. Like I mentioned before. Till then the environmental hazards, the pollution that is happening, this is just like the developed countries are developing. But the pollution they are doing, they are under developing countries. They are having to change the climate. So it will be the same thing. The other 99% population who are not able to survive, will have the impact on them. And other things like education and so on. So it will take as long as it develops. So that is what we are talking about. Till then we will allocate resources to other places. Okay. Anybody else wants to make a concluding statement here? You want to say something? I mean we can also say that problems that are occurring because of us affect everything and every person equally. We eat animals, we eat trees, we eat anything, river bodies, anything. So this is contributing to a very different problem. Which is contributing to a global, for example, global warming is already such a pressing concern. And now they are even more adding pressure on the global. Okay. Your concluding statements. Yes. So there are going to be loopholes in everything, right? But we can't just stop doing everything. So if we focus on the negative side, then only development will be hindered. If we balance the negative side with the positive side, if we promote space tourism, then development will indirectly affect a lot. Initial skepticism comes everywhere. But you are ignoring the potential benefits of space tourism. Like scientific advancements, technical innovations. So the thing is there are two sides to a coin. There will be negative, there will be positive. All we are trying to say is there are more pros than cons. We have to focus on renewability, definitely. But with development, right? And to talk about more technological advancements like satellites are helpful in communication. And there was this Apollo mission, which led to the development of practical fuses which was further used in cleaner cars. So that was a great show. And in the end, I would just say that it's a fact that wealthy businesses have already started setting up commercial space tourism services. But traveling to some place so unknown, like space can take both a physical and psychological toll on us. Ultimately, it's an individual's choice as everybody agreed to. So on that note, I will take your leave for now but will be back soon with some more such hot topics and a lot more young energy like this. Until then, keep watching this space. Namaskar.