As a result of an MRI, Derek Lyons has some thoughts about the near-term future of the space tourism industry.

As big a space nut as I am, I'm not sure that I'll be able to go myself, at least soon, because I have a tendency to claustrophobia also.

I'd be perfect for space. I'm both a claustrophile and an agoraphile (as far as physical space... I'm somewhat phobic about large bunches of people, which, in psychology, also gets stuffed into the agoraphobia slot).

My being about 5' tall and on the skinny side also helps with the small spaces. ;)

There will be twists and turns in space development. Bigelow has been saying (with some reason) that they are hoping governments will be interested in buying their very own space stations. That would be one early market. But there definitely will be a "chicken and egg" issue with orbital stations.

I know what he is talking about on old-style MRI machines. You are "fit in" to the machine, with nothing to look at but a curved white ceiling, and lay immobile listening to a loud thumping/humming noise. I have done a fair bit of spelunking and been or worked in tight locations for substantial periods of time and it never bothered me. But this was somewhat uncomfortable psycholigically. It probably was the first time I truly felt claustrophobic.

Still, I think the bigger issue for early "space hotels" will be other factors - space sickness, for example. Orbital hotels may be a small market until centrifuge designs are built. (Though, with high strength tether material, that may not be TOO difficult.)

Must remember to spell check. "psycholigically"? Argh. Correction: "psychologically" ...

One word: Japan. There are 150 million people there who have no problems with cramped spaces, and who have spawned an entire industry of capsule hotels not much bigger than the inside of MRI machines. This whole clausterphobia thing is an American problem, one that people will get over if they really want to go to space...

Apparently, you have never been in an old style MRI machine. Googling, I found that a capsule hotel unit is typically 2 meters long by 1 wide and 1 high. That is endless space compared to an old MRI unit.

The operator tucks your arms and legs together, with foam blocks to keep your arms and shoulders tucked in. You are slid into a featureless white tube that is almost too tight despite the tucking.
There is barely enough room to wiggle - if you were allowed to. You have nothing to do but look at the white ceiling inches from your face and listen to the thumping/humming sound. I was as surprised as Lyons was - he had been a submariner, and as I said, I'm no stranger to being in tight spots, but this was different. It is no surprise that newer MRI units are a much more open design.

Mind you, it wouldn't stop me from getting in one again if needed, I just wouldn't like it much.

So I guess they're planning on sending people into space in MRI machines now? MRIs sparked the conversation but they're a pretty extreme example.

All my life I've been a claustrophile - assuming there is such a word. Not only small enclosed spaces do not bother me - they feel cozy and calming. I had been in the old-style MRI. and the only thing which annoyed me were the clanging sounds - because they prevented me from falling asleep. I had also been trapped in locked rooms, and to me it was nothing but a problem to solve. Blind panic some people experience (and I had witnessed) in similar situations always seemed just silly to me.