A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Russia’s space agency is planning to launch a new luxury hotel module on the International Space Station (ISS)
According to Popular Mechanics, Roscosmos State Corporation the governmental body responsible for Russia’s space science program, wants to build five-star accommodations on the International Space Station and if the plan is successful would propel Russia ahead of other private equity companies such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin who are all offering their own space tourism plans.
The luxury hotel module would offer everything you might expect in an orbital suite, amenities like private cabins with large windows for space viewing, exercise equipment, and of course, Wi-Fi. Space tourists would stay in the plush accommodations on proposed one- to two-week trips that would also offer a chance to take space walks with a professional cosmonaut. .
As you can imagine the trips wont be cheap with packages proposed to start from $40 million - $60 million per trip, and of course, building a luxury hotel in space is no simple or cheap matter. The project is expected to cost between $279 million and $446 million to build and will be funded with a mix of private and state investments.
The external structure of hotel will according to Popular Mechanics resemble the Science and Power Module, NEM-1, which Russia is currently building for the ISS expected to be completed in 2021.
Working with Russia’s prime space station contractor, RKK Energia, the hotel plans to open for business by 2022 at the earliest but given that the ISS is scheduled to close in 2028 it seems a bit of along shot that this venture will ever get of the ground
