If you want to take your travels to the next level, you might soon be able to stay in the very first low orbit luxury space hotel.
If you fancy seeing 16 sunrises in the space of one day, or care to float around in zero gravity, the folks at Orion Span may have a solution for you. They are currently developing a modular space station dubbed the “Aurora Station” capable of accommodating 6 people (4 guests and 2 staff members) at the same time for periods of 12 days.
The company wants to have the station in low orbit by the end of 2021 in order to welcome its first guests by the start of 2022. Unfortunately you will need a really big credit card limit to vacation on the Aurora Station as there is a reservation fee of US $80,000, which can either be paid via traditional forms or with the equivalent cryptocurrency. Thankfully the fee is fully refundable if you get cold feet.
Over the past decade, a few space tourists have already stayed on board the International Space Station (ISS) for a fee ranging from $20-40 millions, making Orion Span’s relatively cheaper.
The facility which is expected to be 43.5 feet long by 14.1 feet wide with 5,650 cubic feet of pressurized space, may not feature the amenities you may be accustomed to in five-star hotels, but there will be the basics like high speed internet, a few games to keep you occupied, and even the option to take part in experiments such as growing plants in space. They also promise very comfortable sleeping pods and top notch space food, whatever that is.
The facility which is expected to orbit at about 200 miles/320 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, a bit short of what the ISS orbits at (250 miles/400 kilometers).
If you have the money to blow on a trip like this, you will be required to complete a three-month long Orion Span Astronaut Certification (OSAC) program before blasting off, to prep you for the new environment and dealing with oddball situations.
Unfortunately a lot of the nitty gritty details are still unclear at this time, including the selection of a launch partner.
[Featured Photo: Orion Span]
