Multiple private space companies based in the United States are working on projects which will enable space tourism. Those tourists won’t be able to stay in space for long, though, unless they opt for what the Russians seem to be planning. Russian space corporation Roscosmos has proposed building a hotel on the International Space Station.
As you can probably imagine, it’s not going to be cheap by any stretch of the imagination. According to the proposal, the space tourists will have to pay at least $40 million for the week-long experience. Those who are feeling extra adventurous will be able to pay an additional $20 million to go on a spacewalk with a cosmonaut.
The plan has been developed by Russian space contractor RKK Energia. It’s pitched as a way to pay for the construction of the second module that’s going to cost up to $446 million.
The contractor has already started work on the first of the two modules that will house a science laboratory and a power supply station. The Russian government will only pay for the first module so the contractor has to figure out how it will pay for the construction of the second module.
The proposal mentions that the hotel is going to have four sleeping quarters measuring two cubic meters each with 9 inch windows. There’s going to be a lounge area with a 16 inch window. The module will also have medical and hygiene stations.
NASA will stop buying seats on Russia’s Soyuz flights after commercial crew programs of SpaceX and Boeing take off. RKK Energia will then fly one or two tourists per Soyuz flight to the ISS.
The contractor needs five years to finish work on the module. With the International Space Station set to be decommissioned in 2028, it remains to be seen is RKK Energia will be successful in this ambitious endeavor.
Filed in . Read more about International Space Station and Space. Source: popularmechanics