What would it take for a hotel to orbit Earth?

A new competition has emerged, with companies vying to create the galaxy's premier space-based accommodation. Galactic Suite Limited, based in Barcelona, claims it will be the first to open a space hotel, with plans to launch its $3 billion Galactic Suite to the elite in 2012.

Gallery of Outer Space Images

Galactic Suite Limited, founded by Spanish architect Xavier Claramunt, has garnered interest from global investors, including 4Frontiers Corporation, which aims to eventually establish settlements on Mars. An anonymous donor is covering most of the $3 billion needed for the space hotel’s construction. The company is collaborating with the Aerospace Research and Technology Centre (CTAE), a Spanish nonprofit that specializes in aerospace technology services. In addition to developing Galactic Suite, CTAE is involved in various space-tourism ventures, such as creating aircraft software, rovers, and exploring the potential for a spaceport [source: CTAE].

The design of the hotel includes three pod-shaped rooms, each measuring 23 feet by 13 feet, capable of accommodating up to two guests. These rooms will be sent into space via a shuttle, which is why the pods are designed to fit within the shuttle’s cargo space. The structure, with its three interconnected pods, is often likened to molecular models seen in many science classrooms.

Galactic Suite Limited claims to have identified 40,000 potential customers globally — individuals who could afford this extraordinary space experience [source: Yahoo News].

Curious about the cost? On the following page, we will explore the hotel’s features and pricing, as well as the challenges involved in building space hotels.

The Space Hotel Experience

If the Galactic Suite hotel opens as planned, a three-day stay will cost at least $4 million (3 million euros). This fee covers eight weeks of training on a Caribbean island. Afterward, guests will travel to the hotel aboard a space shuttle, likely launched from the private spaceport on the island.

Once aboard the space hotel, guests will wear Velcro suits that allow them to adhere to the walls. The hotel will orbit Earth in just 80 minutes, offering the opportunity to witness 15 sunrises per day [source: Yahoo News]. Besides enjoying the sunrises, tourists will also participate in scientific experiments. An escape rocket will be secured to the outside of the hotel.

Some details about the hotel's amenities are still being worked out. Claramunt mentioned that the company is currently addressing the challenge of creating functional bathrooms, particularly toilets. Instead of traditional showers, which are ineffective in weightlessness, the hotel will feature a spa filled with water bubbles that float in the air.

As outlined in How Space Tourism Works, many companies are racing to become the first provider of space vacations. In June 2007, Bigelow Aerospace launched its second inflatable space hotel prototype. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airways and philanthropist, is betting on his Virgin Galactic company to succeed in the space tourism industry.

At some point, tourists will make their way to space, although it may take longer than anticipated. The planned 2012 launch of Galactic Suite now seems unlikely, given the massive infrastructure investment required. Transporting supplies, developing reusable launch vehicles, navigating potential government regulations, and building a spaceport all demand considerable financial resources, expertise, and rigorous testing. While some technology is available, the question remains: can it all come together in just five years? (Galactic Suite made its 2012 prediction in the summer of 2007.) Additionally, there's the concern of whether these companies can offset the enormous amounts of greenhouse gases produced by rocket launches.