Journeying to outer space has long been regarded as one of mankind’s greatest adventures – but not one that everyone could experience for themselves. With new technology though, dreams of space travel are quickly becoming a reality: it is expected that ordinary citizens will be able to explore space by the year 2020. However, space travel causes stress on the body, and allowing lay persons to travel into space exponentially increases their health risks. Therefore, if the space tourism industry plans expand into the open-market, the role of telemedicine and telehealth must evolve in order to keep travellers safe and healthy.
This article uncovers the ways in which the traditional industry of telemedicine is challenged by the privatization and expansion of space tourism. By examining the economic, technological, political, and regulatory ramifications of the rise of space tourism and space exploration at large, the potential advantages and likely pitfalls are exposed. The article proceeds as follows: Section 2 discusses the nexus of telemedicine and space tourism; section 3 discusses the regulation and standardization necessary to make space travel a viable market in the future; and section 4 offers a practical application of the new technology.
Air and Space Law