Most of the practical uses of space have involved robot satellites for communication, Earth observation or scientific discovery. But the missions that still fire the imagination of politicians and of the public are the ones where people fly into space.

There have been hundreds of Russian and American missions carrying people beyond the Earth. A few of them have taken special guests, either invited for political reasons or, more recently, fare-paying passengers.

Space tourism

Why is it important to races and nations to have their own astronaut? What is it that excites us about putting a man on the Moon, or even a woman on Mars, that cannot be satisfied by sending a robot? How much would you be prepared to pay for a trip into space and how much risk would you be prepared to take?

Programme three examines whether space flight ever become as routine as intercontinental air travel. Will tourists flock to the Moon or to orbiting hotels? Is President George W Bush’s call to send people to Mars realistic? Might we one day colonise the red planet?

Listen
	People in space