Space tourism just got real, thanks to this upcoming (and the first-ever) space hotel! Complete with gourmet dining and villas on sale, we reveal more about this otherworldly holiday destination, which is already taking reservations. By Bayar Jain
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After paving the path for private missions to space and taking a cue from science fiction, space tourism is soon going to become a reality as the first-ever space hotel is slated to open in 2027. Built by Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC), Voyager Station—once open—will be able to accommodate 280 guests at a time.
According to the upcoming hotel’s official website, this space hotel will assure its guests a zero-gravity experience with all Earthly amenities in place. This includes suites for two, a gourmet restaurant, bar, gymnasium, entertainment centre, and villas for purchase should one feel like setting up a holiday home beyond Earth’s frontiers. These villas will come equipped with cooking facilities, three bathrooms, and space big enough to house 16 people comfortably. Alternatively, guests can even rent the suites for up to a month. Structurally, the Voyager Station will don a Ferris wheel-like demeanour that will rotate to simulate gravity to assure long-term habitation.
Weightlessness, despite the assurance of gravity on-board, is expected to be a big magnet luring tourists. Taking note of this, the bar at this space hotel will display a water feature wherein the curving flow of water will cascade from the ceiling, seemingly defying the rules of physics. The Voyager Station will also be providing space classics like freeze-dried ice cream at the restaurant.
Notably, this project was earlier named after Wernher von Braun, a German-born American aerospace engineer who is credited to have taken humanity to the moon via the Apollo Program. However, the hotel’s name has now been changed to symbolise the spirit of those hoping to visit. Currently, the space hotel is scheduled to open to guests in 2027—a two-year delay because of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, bookings for the same are already underway at USD five million (INR 36,48,25,000) for a three-and-a-half-day stay.