Outward bound: developing strategies for the future of spaceports

Abstract

Human desires to reach the cosmos stretch back to prehistory. Only in modern times has this become possible With the advent of an emerging private sector oriented toward space exploration and travel, it is essential to focus on what possibilities and drawbacks such exploration creates. The first space exploration dates back to 1957, leading to decades of national exploration through global powers such as the U.S. and Soviet Union in a "space race." With Soviet Union launching Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, followed by the U.S. successfully landing a man on the surface of the Moon, the space race grew more potent in its objective. In th e21st Century, industry giants like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic have given a new dimension to the space race with the aim of space exploration for the masses, making the dream of interplanetary travel a reality. The global space industry is expected to boost the global economy manifold by 2040, and to accommodate this booming industry, a large-scale traveling facility will be required. Currently, in the U.S. among the four existing space facilities, none of them are capable of supporting large-scale transportation when space travel scales up. By looking at the examples of major transportation hubs like Shanghai and Singapore airoprts, I assess the spaceport's abilities to adapt over time and ensure an enjoyable user experience while accomodating growing needs. From these analyses, I look at How to Consider Multiple Design Strategies for the Development of Spaceport with a focus on accommodating the Technical Aspects of a large scale Transit Hub as well as heightening the experience of space travelers and its users.