Earth-orbiting ‘Space Hotel’ Scheduled To Open In 2027

The Gateway Foundation, a California-based spaceport development company, is planning on deploying a cruise ship-style hotel that will orbit the Earth and offer customers a vacation unlike any other; a luxurious stay in space with some incredible views.

In 2019, the project was officially called the ‘Von Braun Station,’ which is a futuristic concept comprised of 24 modules connected by elevator shafts that make up a rotating wheel orbiting the Earth, reports CNN.

"Fast forward a couple years and the hotel has a new name — Voyager Station — and it’s set to be built by Orbital Assembly Corporation, a new construction company run by former pilot John Blincow, who also heads up the Gateway Foundation."

The company has posted an in-depth description of what to expect from the Voyager Station on their official website:

"The Voyager Class of station will be a rotating space station designed to produce varying levels of artificial gravity by increasing or decreasing the rate of rotation. The station will be designed from the start to accommodate both national space agencies conducting low gravity research and space tourists who want to experience life on a large space station with the comfort of low gravity and the feel of a nice hotel."

"The space station structure will consist of two concentric structural rings fixed together with a set of spokes supporting a Habitation Ring made-up of large modules.

"An un-pressurized ring structure (Inner Ring) with docking arms and stabilizers designed to capture and lock in place a visiting spacecraft to unload passengers and cargo. At first there will be one docking port, but later we will add another so that two craft can be docked to the station at the same time.

"All passenger and cargo access to the station will be through a set of pressurized access tubes connecting the Docking Hub to the Outer Ring Truss."

"A triangular unpressurized ring truss (Outer Ring) supported by a network of spokes to the Docking Hub. Set inside this truss is an Access Tube that will allow people to move about the station freely.

"The truss will be the backbone of the station and provide mounting for habitable modules, solar panels, radiators, and a rail transport system."

"Below the Outer Ring Truss are a series of large, connected, pressurized modules. This is called the Habitation Ring.

"Modules will come in a variety of configurations including:"

 -Air Water Power (AWP) Module.
 -Gymnasium and Assembly (GA) Module.
 -Kitchen, Restaurant and Bar (KRB) Module.
 -Crew Quarters Module, which will be configurable for gravity and micro-gravity habitation.
 -Privately owned modules used for villas, hotels, or commercial activity.
 -Government owned modules used for scientific research, training and staging facilities.

The Voyager Station space hotel is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027.

Image Credits: The Gateway Foundation, Orbital Assembly Corporation, YouTube