Aspiring astronauts have come one small step closer to holidaying in space as momentum gathers for what could be the world's first space hotel.
Hilton has been announced as the official hotel partner of Voyager Space, which intends to build and operate a private space station in low-Earth orbit (LEO) called Starlab.
Starlab is one of four private space stations under development through NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations Program, which is seeking replacements for the ISS after it's decommissioned in 2030.
Hilton has been drafted in to help build crew accommodation and communal spaces, with Starlab having room for up to four astronauts at a time.
While the space hotel will likely be used by professional astronauts at first, the idea of space tourism increasingly appears to be possible.
A billionaire space race is already very much underway as Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, and others test technology and work out whether chucking people into the inky expanse has any commercial viability.
Now there's a potentially luxurious hotel at the other end of a rocket, then the prospect of blasting off may be that much more appealing.
Hilton is not a total stranger to space, becoming the first hospitality company to participate in research aboard the International Space Station in 2020.
Astronauts used the world's first space oven to bake DoubleTree by Hilton cookies while in orbit - the first food baked in space.
In 2021 Voyager, and its operating company Nanoracks, were awarded $160 million by Nasa for the Starlab space station.
Voyager Space CEO and chair Dylan Taylor promised that 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," he said.
While shopping around for a good deal isn't always a necessity for billionaire space cowboys, it may end up being possible to choose between space hotels.
There are plans afoot to build another space station, the somewhat confusingly named Voyager Station that is designed by Orbital Assembly.
The company says is currently scheduled to begin construction in 2026 and welcome guests in 2027, with proposals to have SpaceX shuttle clients back and forth.
Details of part of the Voyager were released for the first time last year.
The new space hotel will take on the shape of a Ferris wheel, spinning to simulate gravity in its pods as in the iconic sci-fi film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
A mocked up video of the space station showed luxurious bedrooms (with views of outer space of course), restaurants, a gym and even a space where guests could enjoy live events such as sports and concerts.
There's set to be a large lounge bar with heaps of seating and a viewing area where you can look out to outer space and views of the Earth below, as well as a restaurant serving up gourmet dishes.
The idea is that it will cater to "space tourists who want to experience life on a large space station with the comfort of low gravity and the feel of a luxury hotel".
