The Space Tourist's Handbook

Eric Anderson and Joshua Piven

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

In May 2001, billionaire Dennis Tito made history as the first "space tourist" he's the guy who paid $20 million to travel to the International Space Station. Since that landmark voyage, many others have followed in his footsteps all courtesy of Space Adventures, the first travel agency devoted exclusively to outer space.

But before you can blast off, there's plenty to learn. In this illustrated handbook, Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson gives would-be space tourists the exact same training program that he gives to the billionaires. Here are step-by-step instructions for liftoff, sleeping in weightless environments, using the "vacuum toilet" on the spacecraft, living in zero gravity, and much more. It's all so informative, the instructors at Space Adventures are already integrating this handbook into their lesson plans.

With more than 25 illustrations (and a special full-color section showing popular vacation "destinations"), The Space Tourist's Handbook is fascinating reading for amateur astronauts of all ages.

Review by Julie Falkner (300307) Rating (8/10)

Review by Julie Falkner
Rating 8/10
As a child, my brother treasured his Pan Am reservation for a future flight to the moon. Today, that childhood dream of space travel has become a reality for only a small number of astronauts and even fewer multi-millionaires. But for those of us who still star-gaze longingly, there's now something much better than a mere reservation: a whole guidebook.

The Space Tourist's Handbook covers everything needed to turn dream into reality, including a discussion of potential tourist missions, which range from the sub-orbital flights "likely to be available by 2007 or 2008" to the "ridiculously expensive" trans-lunar cruises that may one day be possible. Other chapters cover such practical topics as the physical training required (including how to breathe in a high-gravity environment), current and future spacecraft, and preparing for the return to Earth. And there's even a brief language section - you just never know when you might need to ask in Russian, "What does this button do?"

The authors are well qualified. Eric Anderson is the president of Space Adventures, the company that arranged Dennis Tito's space-tourism adventure, and Joshua Piven is a co-author of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. Their treatment is thorough - for example, the use of a toilet in microgravity is explained in some detail - but never too technical. The book is amply illustrated with a series of "wish you were here" photographs as well as lime-and-purple explanatory diagrams and pictures (unfortunately the captions in lime are difficult to read).

Affordable commercial space travel may well become a reality for our children. In the meantime, this down-to-earth guide will be treasured by those who dream of someday looking down on the Earth.
Julie Falkner (30th March 2007)