Humanity is on the brink of a new era in space tourism, with the American space construction company Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC) set to begin building Voyager Station soon. Scheduled to officially open in 2027, it will become the world’s first space hotel specifically designed for commercial purposes. This hotel will blend luxurious accommodations, entertainment facilities, and cutting-edge technology to cater to high-end travelers in Earth’s orbit. Each three-day experience will come at a staggering price of up to $5 million (approximately HKD 39 million), allowing guests to gaze out of large windows at the breathtaking views of Earth and enjoy a one-of-a-kind space lodging experience.
OAC, located in California, USA, has recently rebranded itself as Above Space and is currently designing a rotating space station with a diameter of 488 meters, featuring 24 modules. This design utilizes a rotating structure to generate centrifugal force, simulating the lunar gravity to ensure the basic physiological functions of travelers. Voyager Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of approximately 1,900 kilometers. The hotel can accommodate up to 280 guests and 112 staff members, with all guests required to undergo a short acclimatization training before boarding SpaceX's Starship rocket for their journey.
The design team at OAC assures that this space hotel boasts facilities that rival those of a five-star hotel on Earth, including multiple restaurants, bars, concert halls, cinemas, gyms, and libraries, along with specially designed activity spaces for a low-gravity environment. Guests can freely navigate between different modules, experiencing weightlessness while effortlessly walking in simulated gravity environments. OAC's CEO, John Blincow, revealed that live music performances will be scheduled in the future, with negotiations underway with renowned artists such as Sting and Beyoncé.
This hotel is not just a travel hotspot; it's an important step in normalizing life in space. OAC has currently raised over 80 million dollars (approximately 6.24 billion HKD) through methods such as pre-sale rooms and module leasing.
Additionally, OAC is currently developing two small prototype space stations, including Gravity Ring and Pioneer Station, aimed at testing rotating structures and related systems to reduce risks when the Voyager Station officially goes live in the future. OAC acknowledges that the main challenges currently faced are funding and logistical arrangements, while technically they are quite well-prepared.
Operations Director Tim Alatorre added that as launch costs continue to decrease, alongside the emergence of systems like the SpaceX Starship, the prices for future space tourism are expected to become more attractive. Although SpaceX is not directly involved in the Voyager Station project, the two parties may engage in negotiations regarding transportation collaboration in the future.
From a time when space exploration was solely driven by government initiatives, we now find ourselves in an era where private enterprises can construct space hotels. Voyager Station marks the official launch of commercial space tourism and signals that Earth's orbit will transform into a new arena where travel, business, and science converge. However, it’s important to note that the actual construction of the hotel is still quite limited and currently remains in the planning stages. Whether it will ultimately succeed is something we need to keep an eye on.
