Are you looking forward to experiencing an interstellar hotel trip? Brace yourselves sci-fi lovers, it looks like your long-lost wishes might become actualised sooner than you think! 2025, to be exact, is when The Von Braun is slated to be operational.
Call me a Jetsons, Star Wars or Star Trek lover, but the concept of a hotel in space has the potential to crystallize some of these childhood fantasies of outer-space adventure and space colonization into a reality.
The Von Braun Rotating Space Station aims to orbit Earth. It is deemed to emulate the sensation of a cruise ship but is instead, a space-based cruised. I know where I would like to be in 2025! Picture this, an Interstellar Space Conference is housed at the notorious Von Braun Space Hotel. Civilians discuss the future of humanity, interplanetary relations, the singularity, artificial intelligence and the protection of the earth’s sustainable energy. Idealism at its finest.
The purpose of the hotel is to be a central meeting point (in space) for not only scientific research, but for tourists seeking an out-of-this-world adventure. Literally. The idea was originally conceived in the 1950s by aerospace engineer and space architect Wernher von Braun. Von Braun was a pioneer in the field of human spaceflight and adapted his design based off prior theorists, scientists and authors.
Von Braun’s vision is closer to a reality than we have anticipated – a revolutionary service experience. Following Von Braun, Gary Kitmacher (who works for NASA and the International Space Station program) is working on the design of the space station.The Gateway Foundation are the private company currently responsible for building “the first spaceport” (as mentioned on their website).
The Von Braun station is looking to accommodate 450 people, the largest man-made structure in space. One only hopes that access to such a lavish luxury will soon be democratised so all the masses can enjoy. Sadly though, it will only be initially available to consumers with significant dollars to spend. Get saving kids!
Let’s face it, we can’t all be astronauts. It involves rigorous training and physical stamina. So, the best way to vicariously live through the heroic escapades of a space explorer is to do it in style! And yes, with artificial gravity. The Von Braun Space Station (ISS) will include artificial gravity so regular dining, socialising and whatever other activities you would do in a hotel will carry on as normal. However, let’s not forget about the massive market opportunity and the differentiated value offering of limited gravity activities.
Timothy Alatorre, the space station’s lead architect mentions to CNN Travel:
“We’re going to have a number of different recreation activities and games that’ll highlight the fact that you’re able to do things that you can’t do on Earth. Because of the weightlessness and the reduced gravity, you’ll be able to jump higher, be able to lift things, be able to run in ways that you can’t on Earth.”
The Space Hotel will offer amenities for passengers to experience that sense of “weightlessness” as well as art programs, concerts, bars, restaurants and sports on offer. Imagine taking a yoga retreat to this hotel or a song-writing camp – infinite possibilities. Who knows what new artistic franchises will be created by fostering creativity and innovation in a foreign environment?
Imagine the space raves and concerts that could take place (ie. booking Skrillex for an intergalactic themed music festival). Imagine a mascot Starman in Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster driving by (well, floating) for tourists to voyeuristically admire. Low gravity basketball, rock-climbing, trampolining and Quidditch tournaments from Harry Potter are just a few examples of exciting activities for this space hotel.
With the goalpost for 2025, let’s hope that the Von Braun Space hotel will come into fruition. As mentioned by Tim Alatorre in Dezeen,
“Allowing for true space tourism will make the station financially self-sufficient and drive innovation and public policy in ways never before seen. Both research and tourism are key to making long-term space habitation a reality.”
Democratisation of Space Travel Tourism is the new frontier and The Gateway Foundation are manifesting this sci-fi fantasy into a reality, one giant leap for man at a time!
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