Hotels In Outer Space - Galactic Suite Space Resort

The thrill of traveling is one that entices many individuals, especially with the opportunity to travel to exotic locations and witness the remarkable remains from past eras. Even with some of the most extraordinary travels being offered, nothing has captured the attention quite like The Galactic Suite Space Resort, which will be the world’s first hotel in outer space. While the idea may sound a bit farfetched or even too advanced for today’s economy, Barcelona-based Galactic Suite Ltd. ensures others that their plans to open its first orbital resort in 2012 are already underway.

Galactic Suite certainly sets the bar high, as not only do they plan to open an orbital resort in one year, but their ultimate goal is to have the largest chain of space resorts, allowing space tourism to be available to the public. The company was founded in 2007 and operates on a team of dedicated professionals that have extensive background within top aerospace organizations. With this firsthand knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for outer space, Galactic Suite feels they have the tools they need to achieve their goals.

So what can travelers expect when they spend a getaway in outer space? Each guest will need to take a brief course in astronaut training, which will take place in a relaxing tropical resort. This training program is intended to be fun, yet challenging, preparing travelers for what’s to come when they embark on their first launching. After several weeks of the training program, guests will finally be able to be launched into space via Galactic Suite’s spaceship.

Guests will be orbiting the Earth at a speed of 30,000 km/h, or 15 orbits each day. That means those onboard the spaceship will be traveling around the world in 90 minutes, watching the sun rise and set every 45 minutes. This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and to keep consistent with travels to the unknown, guests will be required to wear Velcro suits that allow them to stick to the walls. In fact, guests will need these very movements to be mobile, being able to crawl around and stick to the walls and ceilings of their pod rooms.

While Galactic Suite intends to make space travel accessible to the general public, the high cost of traveling outside the Earth will only be available to those who have the money – and a lot of it. The Galactic Suite Space Resort is expected to cost $4.4 million for a 3-night stay, which also includes the cost of the 8-week training program on an island getaway. Depending on how popular these travels become, guests can expect a long waiting list as well.

The Galactic Suite plans to start their project with a single pod that will hold four guests and two astronaut-pilots. Already, over 200 people have expressed interest in traveling to space through Galactic Suite and many more expect that their own grandchildren will be able to travel to outer space quite regularly in the years to come. In fact, 43 people have already signed up for the Galactic Suite Space Resort, even with the high costs associated with the trip.

Even with the amount of interest that individuals have expressed regarding outer space travel, many others have questioned the project, suggesting that the time frame is unreasonable. Furthermore, critics question where the money is coming from to fund this project, especially during these challenging times. The CEO of Galactic Suite, Xavier Claramunt, shares that an anonymous billionaire gave $3 billion to fund the project. This individual is a space enthusiast, happy to share in this cutting-edge advancement.

Galactic Suite already has their project underway, which is currently being designed in Europe. The project includes three pillars that will lay the foundation for a space-based tourist attraction, including a spaceport, spaceship, and spaceresort. The spaceport is expected to be on a tropical island where orbital spaceships will be housed and the company will monitor the resort. The spaceport will also be home to the training programs, where guests will spend 8 weeks in an intensive training seminar. The remote location, relaxed atmosphere, and tropical surroundings are intended to build inspiration in each guest prior to launching.

The spaceship will be designed to fit four passengers and two astronaut-pilots and will rise to an altitude of 400 km. The spaceship will use a double hybrid rocket engine, as well as new and innovative features that maximize passenger safety, while allowing for an experience of a lifetime. There is already competition out there, such as with the company Virgin Galactic, who plans to build a similar project where individuals can travel to space. With Galactic Suite however, Claramunt assures those interested that only high-end Russian rockets will be used for transport from their exclusive spaceport built on an island.

Perhaps the most exciting feature is the spaceresort itself, which will be a bio-inspired orbital station. At this time, the design is expected to look like a modular space habitat, with modules that are connected to a central docking station. At the end of each module there will be large, diaphragm windows that can slide open in order to see views of the Earth and outer space. Guests will be able to move about the pods freely, wearing Velcro suits that can stick to the walls and ceilings. This project certainly pushes the boundaries of conventional science and exploration, and if the goal of 2012 is met, mankind will be beyond the next frontier.