After a difficult journey into space, the last thing you want to worry about is finding a hotel room.
Ever since U.S. businessman and millionaire Dennis Tito took his own space odyssey in 2001 and became the world's first space tourist by traveling to the International Space Station, public interest in the concept of space tourism has skyrocketed.
And now, the Russian space group Energiya has partnered with Moscow tech company Orbital Technologies to build the first commercial space station.
The commercial space station is envisioned as a true gateway to the rest of the solar system, according to a statement by Energiya. A short stop over at our station will be the perfect beginning to a manned circumlunar flight.
With no announced launch schedule, it's a little too soon to call your travel agent to book a room on a commercial space station, and it's not known yet how much it'll cost to vacation there.
It seems the first rendition of the orbiting hotel will be a little tight on space, containing just four cabins.
Sergei Kostenko, Orbital Technologies' chief executive, told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency that the commercial space station will offer a unique destination for commercial, state and private spaceflight missions -- but it won't be as cramped as the International Space Station.
Our planned module inside will not remind you of the ISS. A hotel should be comfortable inside, and it will be possible to look at Earth through large portholes, he said.
The plan calls for a commercial space station to be placed in orbit within 62 miles of the International Space Station to allow more opportunities for shared commerce.
Other companies are getting into the act with their own versions of space tourism vehicles. British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is designing a ship intended to take people into space -- for a modest $200,000.
Story Link: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/a...o-gravity-fun-in-russian-space-hotel/19656991
Ever since U.S. businessman and millionaire Dennis Tito took his own space odyssey in 2001 and became the world's first space tourist by traveling to the International Space Station, public interest in the concept of space tourism has skyrocketed.
And now, the Russian space group Energiya has partnered with Moscow tech company Orbital Technologies to build the first commercial space station.
The commercial space station is envisioned as a true gateway to the rest of the solar system, according to a statement by Energiya. A short stop over at our station will be the perfect beginning to a manned circumlunar flight.
With no announced launch schedule, it's a little too soon to call your travel agent to book a room on a commercial space station, and it's not known yet how much it'll cost to vacation there.
It seems the first rendition of the orbiting hotel will be a little tight on space, containing just four cabins.
Sergei Kostenko, Orbital Technologies' chief executive, told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency that the commercial space station will offer a unique destination for commercial, state and private spaceflight missions -- but it won't be as cramped as the International Space Station.
Our planned module inside will not remind you of the ISS. A hotel should be comfortable inside, and it will be possible to look at Earth through large portholes, he said.
The plan calls for a commercial space station to be placed in orbit within 62 miles of the International Space Station to allow more opportunities for shared commerce.
Other companies are getting into the act with their own versions of space tourism vehicles. British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is designing a ship intended to take people into space -- for a modest $200,000.
Story Link: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/a...o-gravity-fun-in-russian-space-hotel/19656991
