The Space Show has a couple of recent space tourism-themed shows that may be of interest to listeners. On Sunday John Spencer of the Space Tourism Society was on the show, while tonight (Monday) at 10 pm EDT Jane Reifert of Incredible Adventures will be on the show (a recording of which should be available on the show’s web site in the next day or so, if you miss it tonight.)

In an essay in this week’s issue of The Space Review, Taylor Dinerman sees the launch of Genesis 1 last week as a key milestone towards the eventual development of space hotels. As he writes:

Only a few space tourists will be content with a short ride into orbit followed by a uncomfortable stay inside a cramped spaceplane or capsule. They will want at least a semblance of the kinds of comforts available on the cheapest package vacation. Therefore the “space hotel” is the minimum system needed to give the industry a chance to grow beyond just a limited number of hardy adventurers. A space hotel will be the one place where tourists will be able to relax and enjoy themselves without suffering from the embarrassments and claustrophobia that are inevitable when someone with minimal training flies into orbit in a capsule or small vehicle.

He notes, though, that there are many challenges ahead for the company. “The real challenge for the company and its leadership will be to see how well it handles the inevitable setbacks.”

While the official announcement isn’t due until later today, the AP reports that New Mexico officials have come up with a new name for the Southwest Regional Spaceport: Spaceport America. The name’s genesis is interesting:

The name grew out of a 45-minute brainstorming session last December during a chartered helicopter ride to the spaceport site in the southern New Mexico desert near the White Sands Missile Range. Representatives from the state and Branson’s Virgin Galactic threw out several possibilities, but ultimately agreed on Spaceport America.

The old name, New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Rick Homans explained, was “a mouthful to pronounce” (true) and “didn’t reflect the cutting-edge vision of the project” (I dunno, “spaceport” sounds pretty cutting-edge to me.) Spaceport America, on the other hand, “is less parochial and solidifies New Mexico’s spot as the premiere spaceport destination in North America.” One imagines, though, that the name is a little off-putting to places like California, Florida, Alaska, Virginia, and Oklahoma, which have spaceports already or have them under active development.