"Galactic Suite," the first hotel planned in space, expects to open for business in 2012 and would allow guests to travel around the world in 80 minutes.
Its Barcelona-based architects say the space hotel will be the most expensive in the galaxy, costing $4 million for a three-day stay.
(Via Boing Boing.)
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4 comments:
I doubt Xavier Claramunt's space hotel design, Galactic Suites, will be implemented by 2012, if ever.
His mysterious financial backer (allegedly willing to provide up to $3 billion) aside, if Claramunt expects to use the US Space Shuttle (which might carry 3 Galactic Suite modules per flight) for transport to orbit, it will cost about $700 million up to $1 billion per shuttle flight. Several more billions of dollars from other investors would be required.
Galactic Suites plans a 22 room hotel, requiring at least 7 or 8 flights, so the financial numbers don't add up, even assuming the US goverment could be persuaded to allow use of the shuttle for a foreign commercial venture, which is dubious.
It's also not the first space hotel--that would be Robert Bigelow's "Skywalker" space hotel, employing 3 BA330 inflatable space modules. Bigelow Aerospace has already launched (from Russia, far cheaper launch-to-orbit capabilities) and has in orbit two different modules already, including most recently the Genesis II module.
Bigelow's Skywalker hotel may be in orbit by 2010, making it both the first proposed and, if things go right, first real space hotel in orbit. Cost per night? $1 million.
I'm assuming mega-rich passengers would fly to orbit via Russian launch vehicles. Perhaps Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, in association with Burt Rutan, may eventually develop an orbital vehicle for transport.
Claramunt's idea is still being planned--Bigelow's plans are already being implemented. My money is on Bigelow.
My money is on Bigelow.
So is mine.
Orbiter Hilton NOW!
(Paris in free-fall, that is. ;-)
Since, according to the Mayans, the world as we know it will end in 2012, this date seems a bit too convenient.
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