Space Hotel Expected to Open by 2012

The Galactic Suite Space Resort is expected to open the first commercial space hotel by 2012. If opened, hotel guests would be able to see the sun rise 15 times per day, and would be able to travel around the world in just 80 minutes. The company said 200 people are reportedly interested in the multi-million dollar stay, with 43 clients already signed up.

Each guest will be able to wear a velcro suit that lets them counter weightlessness in space by sticking to the wall and rooftops of the craft. Each space pod has room for four passengers and two trained astronauts, as they speed around space at 19,000 m.p.h., according to Galactic Suite Space Resort.

Galactic Suite plans on having one pod in orbit to begin with, but will have additional pods readied if demand increases. It will take a day and a half to reach the pod, and visitors will be there for three days.

Space tourism remains a growing industry, as a select group of billionaires have paid upwards of $35M for a stay in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). For those on a budget, Virgin Galactic will let passengers to fly into suborbital space for just $200,000 per trip.