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Sustainable Space Travel: What Can We Do in Education from Economic and Environmental Perspectives?

Author

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  • Yize Wu

    (Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau, Macau 999078, China)

  • Kang-Lin Peng

    (Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau, Macau 999078, China)

  • Yijing Yao

    (Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau, Macau 999078, China)

  • Yanping Guo

    (Faculty of Tourism and Management, Shanxi Vocational College of Tourism, Taiyuan 030031, China)

Abstract

Space travel began in 2001 and became popular in 2021 because of commercial operations. With the development of space technology and commercialization, like re-launchable rockets used to travel to space in recent years, hawse have gradually entered the space era. However, the space industry causes massive emissions, inducing some opposition to its development. It is essential to investigate the attitude of residents toward space travel and balance the pros and cons of sustainability. A quantitative analysis was adopted to test two models based on duality theory. The data were obtained from 284 samples from various regions of China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that the two-factor model of economic development conflicted with environmental protection. However, study two indicates that educational interventions can facilitate sustainable space travel because they mediate the relationship between economic and environmental factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Yize Wu & Kang-Lin Peng & Yijing Yao & Yanping Guo, 2024. "Sustainable Space Travel: What Can We Do in Education from Economic and Environmental Perspectives?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-24, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:684-:d:1317963
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark R. Johnson & Daryl Martin, 2016. "The Anticipated Futures of Space Tourism," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 135-151, February.
    2. Antal, Miklós, 2014. "Green goals and full employment: Are they compatible?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 276-286.
    3. Yi-Wei Chang, 2017. "A preliminary examination of the relationship between consumer attitude towards space travel and the development of innovative space tourism technology," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(14), pages 1431-1453, October.
    4. Anis Omri & Fateh Belaïd, 2021. "Does renewable energy modulate the negative effect of environmental issues on the socio-economic welfare?," Post-Print hal-03271499, HAL.
    5. Spector, Sam & Higham, James E.S., 2019. "Space tourism in the Anthropocene," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
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