The Wright Stuff

Book excerpt: Recounted through a well-selected collection of photographs, this discussion relates a succession of advancements and risk taking, chronicling the evolution of space tourism. Travelling back to the almost simultaneous beginnings of aviation and rocketry, this analysis highlights the crucial names in the industry, honouring them with "The Wright Stuff" awards for their contributions. Illustrating how today's tickets to space have been made possible not just by entrepreneurs and engineers but also by the efforts of artists, regulators, politicians, and some of the earliest aviators, this exploration also touches on today's rapid expansion phase of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space flights. Clearly depicting how a commercial business can emerge in this swiftly growing field, this unique investigation also provides examples of how space tourists are helping to create reusable technologies of benefit to all.