Designs released for the first hotel in space

The first ever space hotel is in the works and is expected to be completed by 2025.

Designed by the Gateway Foundation, the Von Braun Space Station will include kitchens, bars and gravity. The hotel is named based on concepts which were developed in the 1950s by Wernher Von Braun, who the space station is named after.

Senior design architect Tim Alatorre says that although initially it will be a more expensive holiday destination, outer space will eventually be an affordable trip for all of the family.

"Because the overall costs are still so high most people assume that space tourism will only be available to the super rich, and while I think this will be true for the next several years, the Gateway Foundation has a goal of making space travel open to everyone," he said.

"Eventually, going to space will just be another option people will pick for their vacation, just like going on a cruise, or going to Disney World,"

The hotel will take the form of a 190-metre-diameter rotating wheel with 24 individual modules attached around it, these modules will be fitted out with sleeping accommodation among other things. Some of them will be sold as private residences and some others will also rented out to governments for scientific purposes.

Eventually, going to space will just be another option people will pick for their vacation, just like going on a cruise, or going to Disney World

Last year, Orion Span announced that they would be sending one of their own hotels into space, with the price of a 12-day stay starting at $9.5 million.

Next on the agenda for the Gateway Foundation will be an even bigger station that is expected to house over 1400 people.

The project, called 'The Gateway', has been described as "the first important step to colonizing space and other worlds." 

"These will be true cities in space that will be ports of call for those coming and going from the moon and Mars," said Alatorre.