Orion Span is eyeing to open the first-ever space hotel in 2021. The upcoming Aurora Station, named after the light phenomenon that illuminates the Earth's polar skies, it will be the first fully modular space station, and will host its first guests in 2022.
The development of the Aurora Station is helmed by a team that includes Orion Span’s chief executive officer Frank Bunger; chief technology Officer David Jarvis; chief architect Frank Eichstadt, an industrial designer and space architect credited with being the principal architect on the ISS Enterprise module; and chief operating officer Marv LeBlanc.
The hotel will be able to host six people at a time, including two crew members.
During their stay on Aurora Station, guests will experience zero gravity and fly freely throughout Aurora Station, gaze at the northern and southern aurora through the station’s windows, soar over their hometowns, take part in research experiments such as growing food while in orbit, get a virtual reality experience on the holodeck, and stay in touch or live stream with loved ones on Earth via wireless Internet access.
While in space, Aurora Station guests will soar 200 miles above the Earth's surface in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The hotel will orbit Earth every 90 minutes, meaning those aboard will see an average of 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.
Prior to take-off, those set to travel on Aurora Station will enjoy a three-month Orion Span Astronaut Certification (OSAC). The next portion will be completed in-person at Orion Span's training facility in Houston, Texas. The final certification is completed during a traveler's stay on Aurora Station.
Every 12-day journey will cost from $9.5 million per person.