Indian origin Gopi Torakura heads to space: what is space tourism?

Context: Entrepreneur and pilot Gopi Thotakura is set to become the first Indian to venture into space as a tourist on the NS-25 mission of Blue Origin

Space tourism:

• Space tourism offers recreational or business space travel opportunities.
• Includes sub-orbital and orbital missions, with
• Sub-orbital flights reach just beyond the Kármán line.
• The Kármán line is a demarcation between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. It is set at an altitude of 100 kilometres above mean sea level.
• Orbital spacecraft take passengers much further, allowing for longer stays in space.

Concerns:

• Cost- current prices often exceeding a million dollars per passenger.
• Environmental concerns due to rocket emissions, affecting the upper atmosphere.
• Safety remains a significant issue, with a notable fatality rate among astronauts.