Space tourism is well on its way to becoming a reality! We should thank the efforts of companies such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin. A luxury hotel in low Earth orbit is being planned by the California-based Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC), which will allow guests from other worlds to extend the “out-of-this-world” adventure by checking into a magnificent suite.
The Voyager Space Station (VSS), which would be 650 feet wide (198 meters wide), will be composed of two rings joined by spokes, similar to a Ferris wheel. A spaceship docking station will be installed in the inner circle for the convenience of the tourists. The accommodation, restaurants, bars, gyms, and scientific research facilities will be located on the outer ring of the building. When the hotel is fully operational, it will spin at speeds high enough to provide artificial gravity, guaranteeing that its guests have a comfortable stay. When it is finished, it will be able to accommodate up to 400 people. OAC intends to impress not just visitors, but also astronauts, scientists, and some semi-permanent inhabitants in addition to tourists and scientists.
While the concept of VSS is exciting, bringing it to fruition will take time. It’s the process of constructing components for a smaller prototype ring. The modules will be constructed in zero gravity using semi-automatic robotic tools that have been specifically designed for the task. Once the project is done, OAC engineers will seek to generate artificial gravity that is equivalent to that found on Mars — around 40% of the gravity found on Earth.
No matter how good the prototype is, carrying the VSS modules to orbit will be extremely expensive, costing tens of billions of dollars. But the Oceanic Aviation Corporation (OAC), which aims to charge $5 million per passenger for each 3-day stay, is confident in its ability to recuperate the costs. Even though the cost appears enormous, it is little when compared to the $55 million it costs to remain on the International Space Station. In addition, guests at the Voyager Station will be treated to the finest of accommodations.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Orbital CEO John Blincow stated that “you’re going to have the best chefs cooking really fantastic cuisine.” “Moreover, when you pay $5 million to dine somewhere, you are not expecting burgers and fries. We did like to have Sting and Beyoncé come up and perform for us. Every night, there will be two performances. That is included in the whole entertainment package.
Apart from that, visitors will be able to take part in leisure activities that are not now available on Earth. Zero gravity basketball games are one of the ideas that have been offered. According to Blincow, when you jump in the air, you jump five times higher than you would on Earth. Spacewalks which would provide tourists with unobstructed views of the Earth and space are also being considered. It is anticipated that the building will begin in 2026 and that the VSS will welcome its first guests in 2027 if all goes according to plan. Meanwhile, people who want to be among the first to know about the event can reserve their places for a modest price.
