Space hotels, locations from scifi books and movies, may soon become a reality albeit for a few. Hilton, one of the largest hotel chains in the world, has formalized a partnership to form Starlab, the space station expected to be operational by 2027.
The agreement signed with Voyager and Lockheed Martin, the companies responsible for the project, stipulates that Hilton will also take care of the common areas of the space station. The idea is that it will be used in research by scientists and astronauts as well as research Exploration of space tourism.
The station was intended to accommodate up to four astronauts and house the George Washington Carver Science Park, now located on the International Space Station.
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“Hilton will have the opportunity to leverage this unique environment to enhance the guest experience wherever they travel,” Chris Nassetta, president of the hotel chain, told Travel + Leisure magazine.
In 2021, Starlab received a $160 million donation from NASA, the United States space agency. The amount was intended for Nanoracks, a sort of “parent company” of Voyager, and was to be used to begin development of the station.
There are no details on Hilton’s project for Starlab just yet, but there are other initiatives signaling what space hotels should look like.
The US space agency NASA has signed contracts for three more stations with three other companies Axiom Space, Blue Origin and Northropp Grumman. They are part of the “Destination Program” and are intended to combine scientific research and space tourism.
NASA’s goal is to replace the International Space Station, which is being built and managed by the United States, Russia, the European Union, Japan and Canada. The construction has been in orbit since 1998 and is expected to be out of service in 2030. Learn more about the three projects.
The Axiom Station, scheduled to be operational in 2024, already has a set price: eight days in the module will cost US$55 million, about R$281 million.
The French architect Philippe Starck is responsible for the appearance of the station. The idea is to offer an experience close to that of a hotel on Earth in the decoration there are large rooms, televisions, computers and a kind of space deck to observe the planet.
2 of 8 space observatory planned for Axiom Station — Photo: Disclosure/Axiom Space
Space observatory planned for Axiom Station — Photo: Disclosure/Axiom Space
3 of 8 Axiom Space Station Concept — Photo: Handout/Axiom Space
Axiom Space Station Concept — Photo: Handout/Axiom Space
4 of 8 interior concept of the Axiom space station — Photo: Publicity/Axiom Space
Concept of the interior of the Axiom space station — Photo: Disclosure / Axiom Space
The Orbital Reef space station is a project by Blue Origin, the space company owned by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The project was announced in 2021 and is expected to be operational in 2027. The module is said to be 830 cubic meters in size and offer space for 10 people.
To promote the project, the film “Helios”, due to start filming in 2023, will show a group of astronauts protecting the station from a solar flare. The action takes place in the year 2030.
5 of 8 Orbital Reef, a project Blue Origin plans to deliver in 2027 — Photo: Disclosure/Blue Origin
Orbital Reef, a project Blue Origin plans to deliver in 2027 — Photo: Disclosure/Blue Origin
6 of 8 Interior of Orbital Reef, Blue Origin space station project — Photo: Disclosure/Blue Origin
Interior of Orbital Reef, Blue Origin space station project — Photo: Disclosure/Blue Origin
7 of 8 Interior of Orbital Reef, Blue Origin Space Station Project — Photo: Disclosure/Blue Origin
Interior of Orbital Reef, Blue Origin space station project — Photo: Disclosure/Blue Origin
The Northropp Grumann station has already received $125.6 million from NASA.
Its main difference will be its positioning in space the construct, designed for eight people, will be in a lower Earth orbit.
8 of 8 Northropp Grumann Station will be closer to Earth — Photo: Disclosure/Northrop Grumann
The Northropp Grumann station will be closer to Earth — Photo: Disclosure/Northrop Grumann
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