Russia luxury hotel in orbit will start at $1 million a week

The dream of space flight, formerly possible only for professional astronauts and a handful of adventurous multimillionaires, may be on the verge of becoming (almost) affordable for the mere millionaire.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, a Russian-based company, Orbital Technologies, has announced plans to launch a seven-room luxury hotel into orbit, about 220 miles from the Earth, within five years.

A five-day vacation package will cost under $1 million, including up to three months of specialized training, return flight aboard a Russian Soyuz or one of the commercial space planes that will soon be operational, three nights in one of the hotel's zero-gravity cabins, and a sightseeing flight around the moon.

The last "space tourist", Cirque du Soleil founder Guy LaLiberte, paid upwards of $25 million for his tourist jaunt to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft just two years ago.

"Space tourism is a real and fast-growing business," Sergei Kostenko, head of Orbital Technologies, said last week. "Whoever builds the first new spaceship now will reap big dividends."

Conditions aboard the planned Commercial Space Station (CSS) will be more comfortable than official astronauts enjoy in the line of duty, but there will still be no shower (sponge baths only), guests will have to use vacuum toilets, and all meals will be specially prepared "space food," measured out and packed before launch.

Absolutely no alcoholic beverages will be served, but there will be Internet access and a full array of satellite TV channels.

"Our planned module inside will not remind you of the International Space Station," said Kostenko. "A hotel should be comfortable inside, and it will be possible to look at the Earth through large portholes. The hotel will be aimed at wealthy individuals and people working for private companies who want to do research in space."

Up to seven people will be able to stay for up to six months, with a choice of vertical or horizontal sleeping pods. In future, the hotel might be used as a jumping-off point for further tourist adventures, such as trips to the moon.