A few years ago, the idea of private citizens traveling to outer space seemed a bit far-fetched.That, of course, happens now with some regularity .
Now, a California-based company is betting big that the trend toward ‘space tourism’ will continue, as it announces plans to open a hotel in space within the next few years.
Orbital Assembly Corporation, which claims to be the only company developing a “commercially viable, space-based business park with gravity” is planning a hotel of sorts that could house up to 28 guests.
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The facility, expected to be operational in 2025, is targeted to open ahead of a much larger, previously-announced space station called the Voyager Station, which is slated to house as many as 400 people.
Announced this week, Pioneer-class is the name Orbital is giving to the first of its space stations set to open.Dubbed as the “world’s first and largest hybrid space stations for both work and stay,” the concept looks like something out of the Star Wars saga, with five modules built around a rotating ‘Gravity Ring’ architecture design.
Exterior view of Pioneer Station, slated to open by 2025.(Photo courtesy of Orbital Assembly Corp.) Unlike the Star Wars ships where Earth’s laws of gravity seem to apply and images of real-life astronauts in space in movies like Apollo 13 where pencils and tools float around, Orbital says its facilities will provide a “hybrid environment” of both Zero-G ‘microgravity,’ “and variable levels of gravity up to .57-G.”
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Explained more plainly, guests will be able to feel some weightlessness, Orbital says, but they can also drink out of a cup and won’t have to be strapped to the bed to sleep.
“We’ve been able to develop a safe, secure and reliable modular station that will generate revenue and profitability from both the tourist and commercial sectors sooner than our competitors who are adhering to NASA timetables,” Orbital Assembly CEO Rhonda Stevenson said in a statement this week.
Of course, a major barrier to outer space exploration for most people on the planet remains cost; Orbital acknowledges “launch costs continue to be a barrier.” However, the company expects tourists might be enticed to make the trek into orbit “as space travel becomes less expensive.”
Let’s allow ourselves for a moment, though, and take a look at what the room looks like.The rendering of the Pioneer-class accommodations shared by Orbital shows a couple of bunk beds, with flat-screen TVs next to each bed, a window with a view of the stars, complete with a desk and chair.
A room aboard Orbital’s Pioneer-class.
(Photo courtesy of Orbital Assembly Corp.) The rendering of Orbital’s more in-the-future concept (its larger Voyager facility) shows a more spacious room, with guests who appear to have upgraded to an ‘Earth view’ accommodation featuring large windows, and décor that pretty much resembles a typical hotel room.
Orbital is calling this its luxury suite.
A ‘luxury suite’ aboard Orbital’s Voyager.
(Photo courtesy of Orbital Assembly Corp.) Here’s another suite concept aboard Voyager.
It wouldn’t be a luxury hotel without a fine dining option, and Voyager has that, too, according to the renderings shared with TPG.
Rendering of the restaurant aboard Orbital’s Voyager.
(Photo courtesy of Orbital Assembly Corp.) The image of the restaurant’s bar appears to put away any doubts as to whether draft beer is a viable option in outer space.
The bar aboard Orbital’s Voyager.(Photo courtesy of Orbital Assembly Corp.) Again, Voyager – the much larger concept – is expected after the Pioneer-class facility, which Orbital says will be operational by 2025… in just about three years.
While a lot of us at TPG are skeptical of the timeline, it sure looks fun.
Indeed, there’s more work to be done; No facility like this has ever been built.
At the same time, Orbital continues to study the impact of artificial gravity on humans, in partnership with a former NASA astronaut.
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And considering the rate at which outer space is becoming a viable option for some tourists, it’s at least worth taking a moment to consider what it might be like to book a room at a hotel away from planet Earth.
Featured photo courtesy of Orbital Assembly Corp..