As the UK puts plans in motion to develop the first commercial spaceport outside of the US, it looks as though public space flight is on its final countdown – but where do you stay once you get there? Well, if you’ve got US $1 million going spare, you could find yourself spending five days in Orbital Technologies’ ‘space hotel’ as early as 2016.
Officially dubbed the ‘Commercial Space Station’, the Russian company’s space hotel expects to welcome its first guests well before 2020, accommodating up to six people at 217 miles above the surface. Travelling at approximately 30,000kph in the earth’s lower orbit, the space station will offer visitors all of the amenities expected of a hotel, from gourmet foods to high quality bedding and in-built showers.
Although no final prices have been unveiled, it is estimated that would-be astronauts will need to part with upwards of US $1 million to cover both their flight and five days in the space-age accommodation. During this time, guests can make the most of incredible views through the station’s large portholes, while enjoying the thrill of an anti-gravity environment.
Travelling at high speed, the space hotel will allow passengers to witness a sunset every 90 minutes. The astronomical cost of the service is expected to drop as it becomes more popular.
Funded by the Russian Federal Space Agency, Orbital Technologies introduced the concept of the commercial space station back in 2010 with an estimated launch date of 2016.