Space Tourism Managers

Employers

Companies that are currently offering or plan to offer suborbital and orbital space tourism flights include Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, and Boeing. World View, Space Perspective, and Zero2Infinity are in the process of launching zero-pressure balloon trips. Some companies partner with larger firms to handle the marketing, training, and other logistics involved with space tourism. Some companies are building or planning to build facilities for space tourists to stay in space (i.e., space hotels). For example, Axiom Space is constructing the world’s first commercial space station. It also offers space tourism charter services. Orbital Assembly Corporation is currently building Pioneer, which it describes as a “hybrid space station designed for commerce, leisure, and research.” Its expected completion date is 2025.

Starting Out

This is not an entry-level job. Many space tourism managers have previous experience in lower-level space tourism or space operations programs at commercial aerospace companies or experience in operations or mission control at NASA or other space agencies. Some enter the field after working as lead engineers, business executives, or marketing managers. Since there are currently so few space tourism management positions, most job opportunities are shared via word of mouth or through company programs that identify and develop promising candidates currently working in lower-level positions. As the industry grows, traditional job-search methods such as job sites, career fairs, and using the services of a recruiter will become more prevalent.