Fancy checking in a hotel in space?
Voyager Space recently announced that hotel giant Hilton has agreed to develop astronaut facilities for an Earth-orbiting commercial space station called Starlab.
As reported first by Interesting Engineering, Voyager Space Holdings and Lockheed Martin are now actively working on developing Starlab after revealing the project last year.
"Starlab will be more than just a destination, it will be an experience made infinitely more unique and artful with the Hilton team's infusion of innovation, expertise, and global reach," Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Voyager Space, stated in the company's press release.
"Voyager and Hilton are acutely focused on creating innovative solutions for the future of humanity and this partnership opens new doors to what is possible for comfort-focused space exploration and habitation."
IN SPACE - AUGUST 29: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this handout photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) on August 29, 2014, German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst took this image of earth whilst aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Gerst returned to earth on November 10, 2014 after spending six months on the International Space Station completing an extensive scientific programme, known as the 'Blue Dot' mission (after astronomer Carl Sagan's description of Earth, as seen on a photograph taken by the Voyager probe from six billion kilometres away).
Replacing the ISS
In 2021, NASA awarded Voyager and its operating business Nanoracks $160 million for the Starlab space station, which is slated to take the place of the International Space Station.
The George Washington Carver (GWC) Research Park, a cutting-edge laboratory system and the first science park in space, is intended to be housed in Starlab. Voyager Space claims that it can continually host up to four astronauts.
Starlab will make use of Voyager and Nanoracks' experience running international research operations and managing global customer experience on the International Space Station for more than ten years as they move forward to develop this ambitious project.
Even though a hotel in orbit has long been a dream of the space and hospitality industries, this alliance makes it the first of its kind among the commercial stations currently under construction.
Read also: 'Flying Hotel That Never Lands': AI Sky Cruise Ship Will Use Nuclear Energy to Fly in Luxury
Hotel in Orbit
The famous hotel chain made history in early 2020 when it unveiled the first cookie ever baked in space under the DoubleTree brand. Hilton suggested that the Smithsonian might display at least one of the chocolate trip cookies that came back to Earth in January 2020.
Future hotel owners in space and on Earth may benefit from developments resulting from the research and design work being done on Starlab in terms of sustainability and improved design efficiency, according to Voyage Space.
Now, Voyager and Hilton will team up in areas of architecture and design to make the Space Hospitality crew headquarters aboard Starlab a possibility. It will include hospitality suites, sleeping arrangements for the astronauts, and communal areas.
According to Hilton's president and CEO, Chris Nassetta, discoveries made in space have improved life on Earth for many years. Hilton will now have the chance to take advantage of this exceptional environment to enhance guest experience worldwide.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
