As Disney begins work on its first space-themed hotel, tech start-up Orion Span has decided to take the concept one giant leap further and open a hotel in space.
In a statement, Orion Span CEO Frank Bunger said his goal was to make “space accessible to all."
He added: "Upon launch, Aurora Station goes into service immediately, bringing travelers into space quickly and at a lower price point than ever seen before."
The Orion Span website is already taking reservations for a projected 2020 opening date, but before you start typing in your credit card information know that it comes with a hefty $9.5 million price tag for a 12-day trip. But can you really put a price on taking your vacation in outer space?
Orion Span, which has offices in California and Texas, promises that its Aurora Station will deliver “a remarkable Astronaut Experience that can be had nowhere else in the known universe: grow food in space, dive into our in-space Holodeck, participate in real space research, or enjoy views that will blow your mind. At the end of the day, curl up in your private suite.”
Outer space may be dauntingly huge, but space on the Aurora Station is limited. Only six guests may be on board at any one time, and “one or more of those guests may include professional astronauts from space agencies around the world.” Over time, though, Bunger hopes to add onto the existing station to “grow with market demand.”
If you can manage to land a reservation, Orion Span promises an experience you’ll never forget:
“At an altitude of 200 miles, your views will be far superior than those of other space destinations: close enough for great detail and photographing your hometown, far enough to get a glimpse of our broader pale blue dot. With an orbit complete every 90 minutes, you'll see countless sunrises and sunsets.”
Orion Span is not the first company to try to create a space tourism market. Virgin Galactic promised to take customers on a trip into sub-orbital space for $250,000, but despite a proposed launch date of 2009 that project has not yet become a reality.
