What used to be revolutionary and exciting has become mundane for elite billionares such as Claire Macarthy and Derek Worths. Macarthy, Worths and thousands of others who can afford the $8,950,000 tickets to Moon Base 1 are growing tired of week-long transports. "It's not as thrilling anymore," Macarthy says. "We've been there, done that."
Several companies such as LaxAir, Mojave Aerospace Ventures and Virgin Galactic have dominated the space-trip market for decades. Prices have gradually gotten cheaper for trips into orbit or to the moon, since equipment has become more efficient and designed specifically to take several people into space at once. More and more people have been able to make the incredible journey into the final frontier; by the end of the last century about half a million people had paid the slowly decreasing ticket price for the journey of a lifetime.
Moon Base 1 has only been visited by a fourth of space-adventurers; however, Worths states that "the base doesn't feel as exclusive now". Approximately five hundred people occupy the station at any given time, but that number is growing. LaxAir has attempted to create a "VIP Only" entertainment zone that can be accessed with additional cost, but that still does not cut it with the adventure-seeking Worths.
When asked what should be the next step in space tourism, Claire Macarthy thought a moment and said, "Someday I would love to see the sandy landscape of Mars in person." Maybe someday she will, but then even Mars might become less exclusive, and what then?
-Your News correspondent Robert C. - January 16, 2110
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