PHOTOS: What the Real Life Space Hotel Will LOOK Like

A trip to Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios at Disney World can make you feel like you’re on another planet. Head over to EPCOT and take a ride on Mission: SPACE, and you can experience what it feels like to blast off into space, all with the knowledge that you are safely on the ground.

Mission: SPACE

Now, one company is trying to make these artificial experiences a reality with the world’s first-ever hotel in space. Yes, you read that right. Space. Hotel.

The Orbital Assembly Corporation has taken over a project started by the Gateway Foundation to build the first hotel in space. Voyager Station, the name of the project, will be able to hold up to 400 people and could be operational in as few as five years, with a smaller version, Pioneer Station (which can hold up to 28 people), operational in only three, according to an article in WESH 2. The hotel will be a rotating wheel that orbits Earth, with several modules connected by elevator shafts to allow individuals to move from one area of the hotel to another.

©️Orbital Assembly Corporation

The ultimate goal for Orbital Assembly is to be able to operate an entire business park that people can come to for both work and play. Many people’s first thought (including ours) was that space travel would be too pricey for most individuals to afford, especially so early on, but Tim Alatorre, the chief operations officer of Orbital Assembly says it’s more achievable than you might think. “We’re doing everything we can to make space accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy,” Alatorre said in an interview with CNN Travel.

©️Orbital Assembly Corporation

Pioneer Station is more achievable since it is smaller, but both Pioneer Station and the Voyager Station will have many of the comforts that are synonymous with luxury hotel stays. There will also be office spaces and research facilities on board.

©️Orbital Assembly Corporation

There are, of course, still some things that need to be considered, like how much artificial gravity will be required as well as the affects of space radiation (not on the tourists as they won’t be in space long enough, but on the employees who work on the station). Alatorre says guest should’t feel as thought they are heading off to a research facility but should instead feel like they’re living their “sci-fi dream.”

Alatorre is very optimistic about the prospects of the new hotels. “When the word gets back and these initial travelers tell their tales — you’re not going to be able to keep people away,” he said.

We’re always on the lookout for news about hotels both on the ground in Disney World and in space, so make sure to stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest information!