Fly me to the moon: space hotel sees 2012 opening

[austin552]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070810/tc_nm/space_hotel_dc


BARCELONA (Reuters) - "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.

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Its Barcelona-based architects say the space hotel will be the most expensive in the galaxy, costing $4 million for a three-day stay.

During that time guests would see the sun rise 15 times a day and use Velcro suits to crawl around their pod rooms by sticking themselves to the walls like Spiderman.

Company director Xavier Claramunt says the three-bedroom boutique hotel's joined up pod structure, which makes it look like a model of molecules, was dictated by the fact that each pod room had to fit inside a rocket to be taken into space.

"It's the bathrooms in zero gravity that are the biggest challenge," says Claramunt. "How to accommodate the more intimate activities of the guests is not easy."

But they may have solved the issue of how to take a shower in weightlessness -- the guests will enter a spa room in which bubbles of water will float around.

When guests are not admiring the view from their portholes they will take part in scientific experiments on space travel.

Galactic Suite began as a hobby for former aerospace engineer Claramunt, until a space enthusiast decided to make the science fiction fantasy a reality by fronting most of the $3 billion needed to build the hotel.

An American company intent on colonizing Mars, which sees Galaxy Suite as a first step, has since come on board, and private investors from Japan, the United States and the United Arab Emirates are in talks.

PLENTY RICH ENOUGH

If Claramunt is secretive about the identity of his generous backer, he is more forthcoming about the custom he can expect.

"We have calculated that there are 40,000 people in the world who could afford to stay at the hotel. Whether they will want to spend money on going into space, we just don't know."

Four million dollars might be a lot to spend on a holiday, but those in the nascent space tourism industry say hoteliers have been slow on the uptake because no one thought the cost of space travel would come down as quickly as it has.

Galactic Suite said the price included not only three nights in space. Guests also get eight weeks of intensive training at a James Bond-style space camp on a tropical island.

"There is fear associated with going into space," said Claramunt. "That's why the shuttle rocket will remain fixed to the space hotel for the duration of the guests' stay, so they know they can get home again."

In an era of concern over climate change, Galaxy Suite have no plans so far to offset the pollution implications of sending a rocket to carry just six guests at a time into space.

"But," says Claramunt, "I'm hopeful that the impact of seeing the earth from a distance will stimulate the guests' urge to value and protect our planet."

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "....costing $4 million for a three-day stay."
________________

And the round-trip, rocket ship ticket is in addition...???

Yes, I certainly want to invest in this venture. Can I get in on the IPO?

[on-ramp]

will there be artificial gravity or do you still float around ?

[Gogar]

Why 2012? Sounds very - Mayan.

[BRPORSCHE]

Yup, it can be done. Just look at the ISS. Though this 'space hotel' seems to be missing one major thing. Anyone notice that?


Btw the ISS has 5,000 square ft. of living space.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Yup, it can be done. Just look at the ISS. Though this 'space hotel' seems to be missing one major thing. Anyone notice that?


Btw the ISS has 5,000 square ft. of living space.

Yea I was wondering that - how exactly do they power it?

I seriously doubt they'll have it going in 2012. Maybe 2022, but not 2012.

[scottmandue]

I'm waiting for the price to come down to $2M

The view would be way cool but not sure I could relax in outer space, too claustrophobic.

But then the idea of zero gravity sex is intriguing... OH COME ON YOU WERE ALL THINKING IT! Imagine... no arguing about who gets to be "on top"

[BRPORSCHE]

Oh it's big alright. The whole structure covers about the area of an American Football field. Keep in mind this thing is not light, and it is very pricey to send stuff to space. Zarya one of the main Russian components, and the first module to go up weighs 42,000 lbs!!!!! The U.S will be finished with the ISS in 2010. The shuttles will be retired, and then Constellation goes into top gear.

ISS:


Constellation:

[Mo_Gearhead]

Surely there is someone on this BB that has ties to NASA, the space program, etc.? I want them to chime in.

If anyone thinks you, as Mr./Mrs. Civilian, by 2020 (or pick your own date) will be able to just walk out to a shuttle launch site, check your baggage, go sit down and fasten your seat belt, get launched into orbit, hook up with an orbiting Space Hotel and walk in... all of this with no more effort/knowledge/training than climbing aboard a shuttle to Las Vegas ...you are in dreamland!

Have you ever watched the preparation that goes into a shuttle launch? Get real people.

[MRM]

Isn't the world going to end in 2012? Maybe we all just need to make new years' reservations at the space hotel.

[futuresoptions]

Looks like I will be making my reservations for December 21st of that year...... I wonder if they take American Express.......