Staying in luxury villas and high-end hotels is about to become outdated, as we now have the right to dream of vacation trips in space. After six decades, space science is gradually moving towards commercialization, allowing more and more billionaires to purchase a pathway outside Earth’s atmosphere.
In just the past few months, founder Jeff Bezos and billionaire Richard Branson have flown around the Kármán line – the boundary between the atmosphere and outer space, paving the way for the future of spacecraft catering to ordinary customers.
Seizing this demand, Orbital Assembly Corporation (AOC) based in Sacramento has announced its ambitious plan: to open the first space hotel by 2027, named Voyager Station. Voyager is envisioned as a luxury resort that can accommodate up to 280 guests along with 112 astronauts, as well as many essential amenities such as a restaurant, bar, concert hall, gym, and even a cinema.
The Voyager space hotel is set to welcome guests in 2027.
This may sound absurd for a hotel project. Tim Alatorre, Vice President of AOC and architect of Voyager, asserts: “This visionary plan is about to become a reality, and believe me, it won’t take too long. Becoming an astronaut is no longer a distant dream for the average person.”
Resting in Space
The idea of taking humans beyond Earth’s atmosphere has been around for a long time, possibly since our ancestors. The basic structure of Voyager is based on a century of theory about how to colonize the final frontier.
The concept of a rotating wheel was formed in the early 1900s as a way to create artificial gravity. It was later popularized in the 1950s by German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. The artificial centrifugal force it generates when spinning allows travelers to move normally in a space environment.
Initially, the gravity level of the rotating wheel will be equivalent to that of the Moon, about 1/6th of Earth’s gravity. Alatorre stated that the company hopes to achieve a rotation that provides gravity similar to that of Mars (1/3rd of Earth’s gravity), and eventually reach Earth’s ideal gravity.
However, currently, there is little data on human adaptability to artificial gravity; they aim to understand passenger physiology before increasing the G-force (the virtual force used to explain the relative acceleration of an object when changing direction or speed compared to free fall).
After departing from the home planet, travelers will arrive at the zero-gravity central dock.
Moreover, being in a lunar gravity environment is a dream for many. Disabled individuals will face fewer physical barriers, while able-bodied people may even become professional athletes in this new world.
After leaving their home planet, travelers will arrive at the zero-gravity central dock. From here, long elevator shafts will transport them to a series of “habitation modules” surrounding the circular terminal area. At this position, the centrifugal force will be strong enough to ensure the safety of the guests.
The hotel will consist of a total of 24 modules, with a total area of up to 11,600 m2, allowing passengers to enjoy all the amenities they need. They can lift weights of up to hundreds of kilograms, practice aerial slam dunks, enjoy live music, traditional dishes like mooncakes and freeze-dried ice cream, along with many other food options.
The true beauty of this hotel is the view of Earth outside the cabin window, with stars twinkling against the dark backdrop of space.
The Cost of Space Travel
One concern for many future travelers is the cost of short trips outside of space. Alatorre mentioned that they are negotiating with ticket agents. The ticket price that Oliver Daemen paid for a seat next to Bezos was $28 million. An astronomical price, meant only for the ultra-wealthy, and certainly not for the average person.
However, Alatorre stated: “We want to make space travel an easy option. If you want to go to Paris for a week or you want to go to space for a week, we want that to be a matter of preference, not money.” Although he did not go into detail, he mentioned that the target price for the Voyager hotel is comparable to cruise ship tickets.
He believes that, along with the development of private launch systems – SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy rocket – the cost per pound of launching into orbit will decrease. Transportation will no longer be mass-restricted. Alatorre predicts that staying at the hotel will become easier for the general public within a decade.
Reality or Not?
SpaceX, although not in a business relationship with AOC, has shown great interest in this ambitious startup. The SpaceX founder tweeted: “Perhaps SpaceX could offer round-trip tickets once the project is completed? We are very curious to see if this plan will become a reality.”
Alatorre acknowledged that business partners and investors are uncertain about the project’s future. However, considering that the 23-year-old International Space Station (ISS) – currently the most reasonable tourist destination in orbit – is nearing its end, some space companies hope to fill that gap with new projects.
The hotel consists of a total of 24 modules, with a total area of up to 11,600 m2.
Axiom Space has a contract with NASA to attach a “destination module” to the ISS. This module will connect with a series of other modules, forming an independent commercial station. Last month, Sierra Space and Blue Origin, the aerospace branch of the Bezos empire, announced plans to establish the Orbital Reef commercial station, which is set to officially operate by the end of this decade. However, as of now, Voyager is the only name with a chance to tap into space tourism.
Above all, Alatorre stated that he believes in the theoretical and mechanical aspects of the space hotel. AOC has nearly completed the design of the “Gravity Ring” – a scaled-down version of the wheel design, terminal area, and a few habitation modules. These prototypes – expected to be habitable by 2025 – will enter the final testing phase before the completion of the Voyager assembly.
“We are committed to making this project happen. We are dedicating our lives and lifelong fortunes to make it a reality. There is nothing technologically stopping us. It’s just a matter of time and money, and we can overcome those challenges,” Alatorre declared.
