We’re moving into pretty exciting times where a brand new Space Race is underway–the race for deep-pocketed space tourists.
Although the Russians have already won the first-tourist-into-outer-space prize, there are other races going on as well. One of the most important is based upon the axiom; where tourists go hotels quickly follow.
Currently, the only accommodation for space traveling tourists in the known solar system is the International Space Station and only the Russians are taking boarders (at $20 million a pop, transport included).
Tapping into this developing marketplace is an understandably expensive ordeal. Or, if you’re Multimillionaire Robert Bigelow, just a large chunk of your personal fortune.
According to an article in the LA Times, Bigelow, who built the Budget Suites of America Empire, is currently working on a similar empire in outer space. His unique design is unlike anything you’d find on earth, however.
Bigelow envisions an enormous inflatable hotel made of 16-inch Kevlar walls floating lazily above the earth’s atmosphere. In fact, a smaller prototype, launched last July is already circling the globe and undergoing testing. If everything works out, a full size version will launch in five years and paying customers will be dozing away in zero-G in less than ten. The floating hotel will have 3-4 rooms and 12,000 cubic feet of space. A weekend package will run approximately $8 million.
Hey, no one said it’s going to be cheap, folks!