First ever luxury space hotel ‘to open in 2027’

The world’s first space hotel is set to open in 2027, with a capacity for 280 guests and 112 crew. 

The Voyager space station, which is currently still in a conceptual phase with construction not yet started, will be the largest man made structure in space when complete, according to the hotel’s website. 

Former pilot, John Blincow, who is CEO of the company building the hotel, Orbital Assembly,  said the project had experienced some delays due to the pandemic but construction was expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in time to welcome guests the following year. 

Once built, the Voyager Space Hotel is expected to have capacity to host 280 guests

The complex is designed like a cruise ship and will include 24 “habitation modules”, including a restaurant, bar and an event centre. 

The design also includes 44 “life boats” or emergency return vehicles. 

In interviews, Blincow has previously said the “Golden age of space travel is just around the corner” and suggested ambitions to partner with Elon Musk’s space travel firm, SpaceX.  

A video on the Voyager website shows a mock-up of how a SpaceX Starship might dock at the hotel. 

The hotel will replicate gravity by spinning, following the same logic that keeps water in a spinning bucket

The hotel will replicate gravity by spinning, following the same logic that keeps water in a spinning bucket. 

But the gravity on board will only be one sixth of the gravity found on earth, allowing the space station to offer a series of “low gravity activities” such as basketball, where guests can take advantage of their new found weightlessness. 

The space hotel has not yet released details on its room rate but says there are plans to eventually bring the price of a stay at the Voyager Station in line with buying a cruise ticket. 

However Virgin Galactic’s price could give an indication, the company plans to launch ordinary passengers into space at $250,000 (£180,000) per person, per trip.

The hotel says it will offer a number of low gravity experiences, allowing guests to test their weightlessness on the basketball court

Orbital Assembly technology is working on a series of other commercial space projects, including a hotel for a private Russian company, Orbital Technologies, was expected to open to guests in 2020.