• The Voyager Space Station will be able to accommodate 400 guests when it opens in 2027. All images Orbital Assembly Corp / Twitter
    The Voyager Space Station will be able to accommodate 400 guests when it opens in 2027. All images Orbital Assembly Corp / Twitter
  • Hotels rooms will be spread over 12 modules with 126 luxury suites, 62 luxury rooms and 30 standard rooms.
    Hotels rooms will be spread over 12 modules with 126 luxury suites, 62 luxury rooms and 30 standard rooms.
  • Space tourists will be able to check-in at the Voyager Station hotel without any prior astronaut training thanks to the structure's rotating design, which provides near-linear gravity.
    Space tourists will be able to check-in at the Voyager Station hotel without any prior astronaut training thanks to the structure's rotating design, which provides near-linear gravity.
  • Spacewalks - where visitors don space suits and head out into the atmosphere - will be one of the hotel's key tourism draws.
    Spacewalks - where visitors don space suits and head out into the atmosphere - will be one of the hotel's key tourism draws.
  • The hotel will also have 44 Earth Return Vehicles to take travellers to and from the Voyager Station.
    The hotel will also have 44 Earth Return Vehicles to take travellers to and from the Voyager Station.

Out of this world: First space hotel set to welcome guests by 2027

Space tourists will be able to check-in at the hotel without any prior astronaut training

Hayley Skirka
Hayley Skirka

March 02, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

A Californian company is planning to build the world's first space hotel and wants to welcome guests by 2027.

Orbital Assembly Corporation bills itself as the world's first large-scale space construction company.

It has plans to open the Voyager Station, part of which will be a luxury hotel in orbit, capable of accommodating up to 400 guests.

Space tourists will be able to check-in at the hotel without any prior astronaut training thanks to the structure's rotating design, which provides near linear gravity.

This also means that toilets and showers will be able to operate normally, and that guests will be able to walk, run and jump inside the structure.

Spacewalks, films and concerts

Spacewalks – where visitors don space suits and head out into the atmosphere – are being billed as one of the hotel's key tourism draws.

The circular VoyagerStation will be 200 metres in diameter, and made up of 24 habitation modules. Each module is 12 metres in diameter and will be constructed of rigid aluminium.

These rotating modules will house restaurants, a space bar, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, cinema, rock-climbing and more. Some could also be used for concerts or sporting events.

Hotel rooms and suites will be located in at least 12 of the rotating modules. The company has plans to open 126 luxury suites, 62 luxury rooms and 30 standard rooms, spread over three levels.

Some of the station's fixed modules will be used for the space station's air, water and power needs.

Gravity as strong as the moon

Spacewalks – where visitors don space suits and head out into the atmosphere – are set to be one of the hotel's key tourism draws. Orbital Assembly Corp / Twitter
Spacewalks – where visitors don space suits and head out into the atmosphere – are set to be one of the hotel's key tourism draws. Orbital Assembly Corp / Twitter

The unique rotational design of the hotel means that artificial gravity on site will be almost as strong as that on the Moon. That's something that will allow first-time space tourists to book a stay where they will be comfortable.

"Micro-gravity is just brutal on our bodies. We need artificial gravity to be able to live long-term in space," explained Tim Alatorre, co-chief operating officer at Orbital Assembly Corporation.

The hotel will also have 44 Earth Return Vehicles to take travellers to and from the Voyager Station. Each of these can accommodate up to 10 passengers and will glide back from space, with automated flight controls for a landing that would, in theory, be able to happen at any airport runway that handles commercial traffic.

The space station will be used by researchers, private companies and government agencies as a place to train crew that is headed to Mars or the Moon. It will also welcome individual tourists, but if you fancy a trip, know that it won't come cheap. The company estimates recreational space travellers will need a net-worth of about $50 million to take a trip. For that price, travellers are guaranteed a hotel with plenty of atmosphere.

The National photo project

Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).

Gender pay parity on track in the UAE

The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.

"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."

Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.

"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.

As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general. 

Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15

Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered

UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered

Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered

Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered

Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered

Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered

While you're here
LifestyleUS NewsSpace tourismTravel