If you’ve always harbored dreams of space travel, now could be the time to dust off your imaginary spacesuit and take flight – as long as you don’t mind a touch of luxury, that is. Thanks to Vast, a California-based space startup, adventurers and astronauts alike might soon get the chance to experience five-star comfort high above the earth.
Vast, the brainchild of Jed McCaleb, a cryptocurrency billionaire, has big plans that will change the future of space tourism. Their novel concept places a premium on comfort and convenience while daring to imagine what holidaying in the vacuum of space might look like. Set to make its debut in low-Earth orbit in the coming year, Haven-1 is a pioneering commercial space station set to redefine space tourism.
Potential customers aside, Haven-1 will provide new opportunities for researchers and scientists. Aside from its plush accommodations, it also features a microgravity R&D lab. This provides a unique environment for carrying out experiments and investigations that are impossible under the Earth’s gravitational pull.
Slated for its maiden voyage in 2026, Haven-1 promises its travelers a trip that they won’t soon forget. Besides its four private crew quarters, the space station also includes a communal area replete with a shared table. Here, travelers can come together to share meals or swap stories while taking in a breathtaking view of Earth. For fitness enthusiasts, a resistance band exercise system allows for workouts that are out of this world, literally.
Careful thought has gone into every aspect of Haven-1’s design. Peter Russell-Clarke, a key figure behind some of Apple’s best-known products, had a hand in the space station’s interior design. His influence is clear to see in the maple wood slats that line the station’s interior – a touch of homeliness to break up the cold, sterile sterility that is often associated with spacecraft interiors.
But it’s not just visual comfort that Haven-1 offers. Those who value a good night’s sleep will appreciate the patent-pending sleep system. An inflatable, queen-sized duvet ensures a cozy slumber, even in the zero-gravity environment of space. Moreover, both the temperature and lighting settings are completely adjustable, so travelers can create an environment that feels just like home.
Before embarking on their space journey, travelers will undergo safety training to prepare them for the conditions they will face. Nevertheless, the whole experience promises to be as stress-free as possible; all the heavy lifting – or flying – is left to the professionals.
So, how does one go about booking themselves a room in this cutting-edge orbital hotel? Surprisingly, all it takes is an inquiry on Vast’s website, and stay duration is expected to average around ten days. However, if the cost of a ticket to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket is any indication, potential travelers should prepare themselves for a hefty price tag – a trip to the International Space Station in 2022 cost a whopping $55m per seat.
But despite the astronomical price tag, Vast’s ambitions are clear. They’re catering to serious space travelers, and their space station is by no means a casual jaunt or ‘carnival ride’: it’s a serious, unforgettable adventure for those with a true passion for space. So, if you’re one of those people who’s always dreamed about sleeping under a space duvet and looking out a window at the Earth from orbit, your chance might just be around the corner.
