HOW SPACESHIPONE’S HISTORIC LAUNCH 20 YEARS AGO paved the way for a new space tourism era.

Fast-forward 20 years:

NASA indefinitely delays Boeing's Starliner return to Earth, stranding two astronauts at the Space Station.

Two Falcon Heavy side cores landing almost simultaneously after NASA's GOES-U launch.

No real tourism (yet) but the Space-X Falcon's reusability is rapidly bringing the cost-to-orbit down, and Starship's heavy lift capability will help make human habitation in low Earth orbit feasible.