Space Hero is a reality TV show, set to air in 2023, which aims to send a contestant to the International Space Station as part of a global competition. They have secured a seat on Axiom 4, to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) and are working on a global reality TV show based on the competition and selection process. One candidate will be selected out of 24 contestants from around the world. They aim to have 12 candidates from developed countries and 12 from underdeveloped countries. The show will contain mental, physical and emotional challenges, just like astronaut training itself. Throughout the show, the contestants will be living in a simulated space village dedicated to the purposes of the programme.

I spoke to Deborah Sass and Thomas Reemer, the founders of Space Hero, about the initiative.

RR: What sets Space Hero apart from the other recent space tourism initiatives?

SH: Space Hero has a purpose, and it is primarily impact driven. As a global platform, we respect the truth of our purpose and its impact over profit. We see mostly commercially driven initiatives around us. After all the interested billionaires have flown to space, can space tourism really survive? If it manages to create a strong purpose that is shared by humanity, it has a chance. Let’s not forget that you can’t breathe, drink or eat money, you need a healthy planet to survive. That’s why we know Space Hero will be successful for decades to come.

RR: Why do you think democratising space and making it accessible to everyone is important, considering that we have unresolved issues here on Earth?

SH: Understanding space means understanding Earth. In space we have no oxygen, no water or radiation and it’s hard to dispose of waste. It is an extreme environment, yet humanity has achieved living in space uninterrupted for longer than 20 years now. The technology developed for that should be used by all of us on Earth too. Imagine using 10 percent of our freshwater resources, using solar energy more consistently and becoming a lot more waste conscious; the health of the Earth would improve. If Space Hero manages to use the global attraction of the project to promote better use of resources, we are taking care of major unresolved issues on Earth. And if that takes giving away a $55 million ticket to space, then we are all for it.

RR: Some astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan, were vocal critics of the push to commercialise space. Some people are concerned about space tourism specifically. Do you have anything to say to them?

SH: It’s understandable that the first and the last man on the Moon want to preserve what they discovered from the dangers of commercialisation. We have seen parts of our planet being ruined by mass tourism. When Cernan left for the Moon, Deborah wasn’t even born yet and I was a baby. As the world is preparing for the next Moon missions, we reckon that the dangers of commercialisation will not be relevant for a long time, it’ll take a couple of generations before we see any activation. The more destinations for manufacturing or energy creation we have in space, the lesser the need for them to be on Earth.

RR: How do you think this project will help, influence and inspire Pakistani students to learn more about the space industry?

SH: Space Hero is bridging the gap that exists between the space industry and the wider public. The space industry traditionally is an echo chamber, achieving amazing results in exploration and scientific progress, but does the wider public really care? Not really. Space is an exotic topic because it is expensive, but people fail to see how it impacts their lives directly. But it does, every day.

RR: Thomas, you are a leader in the information technology and media industries. And Deborah, you are a seasoned entertainment industry executive. Both of you come from the music industry. What inspired you to become space enthusiasts?

SH: We are both at a point in our lives where it becomes more important to create an impact with the energy you have. Space is clearly a global topic. You learn about the stars and planets during the first week at school, regardless of where you are. This attraction inspires us. We know how to create pop culture that is cool and sexy, but also meaningful. Space provides all the aspects of pop culture; it is inspirational and aspirational. That’s why we have become enthusiasts.

Imagine the impact it is going to have on people from around the world, when they get to see a reality TV show covering each moment from astronaut training to being launched to the ISS. Many of us dream of becoming an astronaut, but most get discouraged because of the limited resources in our countries and the endless requirements. Space Hero is here to change that and democratise space, because space belongs to everyone.

The writer is a teacher of astrobiology and a visiting scholar at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science