Exciting times ahead for space exploration: experts

From Global Montreal: Exciting times ahead for space exploration: experts
TORONTO- In a time of austerity, advancements in space travel seem to be a thing of the past.

On the 50th anniversary of the U.S.’s first orbital space flight, the country that once led the space race now relies on Russian partners to provide transportation for humans and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS).

According to Gilles Leclerc, director general of space exploration at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), for astronauts, the only ‘game in town’ is Russia. And the situation is going to be such until the U.S. develops a replacement for the retired shuttle. So is there anything to be excited about when it comes to space travel? Is space travel dead?

It’s not dead – just going through a transition period, says Leclerc.

Canada has always been and remains dependent on U.S. partners to carry Canadian astronauts to orbit.

With the end of the shuttle program last summer, there is no available launch system for astronauts for the U.S. side, said Leclerc.

So what’s next for space exploration? According to Leclerc, it may be space tourism.

Leclerc says the current environment lends itself to more international cooperation in sharing the risk and cost of space travel. In addition to more traditional cooperation between the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, there will be new opportunities on a purely commercial basis within the next five to ten years.

“The most interesting thing that is really going to explode in the coming years is space tourism,” said Leclerc.

“You have companies like Branson’s Virgin Galactic, other entrepreneurs are building space ports, they have a plane that is going to take tourists, there is a waiting list. I’m not saying that millions of people will be going to space, within this decade, but it’s going to be something exciting to look at the democratization of low Earth orbit. The ability for adventure tourism to have a new destination around the Earth.”

Leclerc says despite the rough patch experienced at the CSA, it’s still developing plans and trying to make the best of the money that the agency has access to.

“Space is still very exciting and inspiring to Canadians,” said Leclerc. “Canadian accomplishments in space are modest by any standard, but very significant. Compared to the size of Canada and the industry, we’ve always punched above our weight and that’s what we’re going to do.”