While American private companies are working to offer to pay customers with a short trip to space. (or the edge of it). Russia is cooking up something grander. According to Popular Mechanics, it proposal saw a plan to build a luxury hotel in the ISS with Russian space corporation Roscosmos project. At least $ 40 million for the experience. Anybody whose pockets are deep enough to shell out at $ 40 million can stay there for a week or two. An additional $ 20 million will be able to buy an opportunity to go on a spacewalk with a cosmonaut.
The magazine says Russian space contractor RKK Energia conjured up the strategy to be able to pay for the construction of the 2nd module it’s building which will set it back $279 to $446 million. RKK Energia is already building the 1st of the 2 modules to serve as a science lab and power supply station. Although the 2nd module has always been part of the plan. The Russian govt is only paying for the 1st one.
The tourist module will reportedly seem like the 1st one from the outside. You can see an illustration of the scientific below:
The inside, however, will have 4 sleeping quarters around 2 cubic meters each with 9-inch windows. It’ll also have 2 “medical and hygiene” stations. As well as a lounge area with a 16-inch window — after all. If Russia wants guests to pay tens of millions, it’ll have to be worth it.
RKK Energia is hoping to fly 1 or 2 tourists per Soyuz flight after NASA stops buying seats on the capsule for astronauts headed to the ISS. Which will happen once Boeing’s and SpaceX’s commercial crew program vehicles are ready. To be able to jump-start construction, it’s to find 12 (wealthy) passengers willing to pay $4 million up front. And if at least 6 customers pay for a week-long stay at the space hotel per year. The company can recoup its investment within 7 years.
As popular Mechanics wrote, though, the ISS is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2028. The space contractor says that the module takes 5 years to finish, so it’ll soon begin building soon.
