Public perceptions of creating heritage sites in outer space

Purpose Spacecraft launch rates, including for tourist flights, have increased rapidly in recent years. Despite these advances, historically and culturally significant sites in space – such as the first human footprints on another celestial body – currently have no binding, international legal protection. Design/methodology/approach This article discusses the emerging concept of “space heritage” and presents a thematic content analysis of the 17-year history of the most prominent space-related Reddit group to gauge awareness and perceptions regarding this topic. Findings The analysis finds that discussions of space heritage tend to focus on the Moon, particularly the Apollo 11 site, and that there is notable disagreement regarding what constitutes space heritage, whether or not bestowing official heritage status is necessary, the viability of actually enforcing any protections and the potential tourism value of these sites. The findings underscore the importance of extending the study of heritage tourism beyond Earth, as human influence and impact likewise extend into the cosmos. Originality/value Space heritage is an underexplored topic in tourism studies, and the increasing involvement of the private sector in spaceflight indicates a need to begin delineating what constitutes space heritage and how to best protect such sites.