Space Hotels
Visionaries who dreamt of space hotels that
could support a flourishing space tourism industry are now
rolling their eyes at the pessimists who conceived the idea
as preposterous.
Space Hotels |
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Orbital tourism including space hotels are probably the most
anticipated industries emerging today.
This is due to the fact that most people want to experience
what astronauts describe as a vision of Earth from space,
weightlessness and spacewalks
among others. Information and pictures in books, magazines,
movies and the Internet influences this desire which is deemed
as an advantage for the space tourism industry since further
explanation and marketing of this concept need not be pursued
aggressively.
However, space tourism opportunities are quite expensive,
to fetch a whooping $30 million per brokered flight. Needless
to say, only wealthy people can ever afford to pay for a space
tour. In view of the costs, privileged people recommend the
construction of space hotels so they could enjoy their money's
worth and likewise be able to stay in beyond the confines
of Earth as long as they want. The presence of space hotels
would allow the wealthy to experience what it's like to live
in a unique environment.
What would space hotels look like then? Basically, space
hotels would look like a collaboration of both the architect
and interior designer's imagination. Space hotels would initially
use simple designs because architects and designers would
still be in the process of creating a structure that would
be appropriate for the purpose it intends to serve.
But in the long run, space hotels would appear in various
degrees of complexity, particularly in terms of design. This
is so because zero gravity
tenders the building of structures without limitations whether
in range, size or direction. The overall space hotel structure
shall compose of detachable components and a new area can
be integrated by connecting it to any part of the entire existing
structure. Rotating space hotels can likewise be designed
to serve as a come-on to customers to board the hotel.
What kind of accommodations, services and amenities will space
hotels offer? Similar to the Earth-bound hotels, space hotels
would offer utmost accommodation, from affordable to expensive
rooms that will serve both the average and wealthy customers.
Swimming pools, bars, restaurants, spa and other typical hotel
facilities available with Earth hotels will likewise be offered
since these are expected amenities. Of course these amenities
will be modified somewhat for weightless factor one will experience
while inside the space hotels or an artificial gravity situation
will need to be created within the environment.
What are the differences between Earth hotels and space hotels
then? With Earth hotels, building additional areas for new
amenities is impossible unless you have extra space in the
property; whereas with space hotels as mentioned earlier,
new components can be attached to the existing structure without
any spatial prohibition. Furthermore, unlike Earth hotels
that are permanently affixed on land with foundations to boot,
space hotels are supported by orbits that require boosting
periodically to maintain its altitude as well as sustain the
balance of the structure whenever a wing is added or removed.
Although the idea of space hotels has been considered relevant
by a number of people, construction has never been encouraged
due to the limited number of space shuttles that fly beyond
the Earth's atmosphere. Besides, the number of willing tourists
today would be insufficient to sustain a space hotel's operation
since only the privileged few can afford the travel.
In the future, after suborbital flights become commonplace,
space hotels will become a reality. Until then, the idea
of space hotels remains in suspended animation. One step
at a time, we will get there, though.
Check out the future of space hotels as envisioned by Adam
Graiser
External Links
Youtube Video of a space hotel concept: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivHAO96FIiw
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