The prospect of going on vacation to space is becoming more and more real. Several companies are planning to sell brief trips into the great unknown, but the Russian space agency may be about to go a step further.
Roscosmos is evaluating a proposal to build a five-star accommodation attachment to the International Space Station (ISS), which would offer people the chance to take one to two-week-long trips to space packed full of some interesting activities.
The proposal to expand the ISS into a luxury hotel was reported on by Popular Mechanics. The plan includes private cabins with large windows to gaze out at space from, exercising equipment to stay in shape in a lower gravity environment, and even Wi-Fi.
As part of the experience, space tourists would also be able to stay with cosmonauts and go out on spacewalks with them. The business plan is being proposed by a space station contractor called RSC Energia. For those thinking that a trip to the International Space Station would make an ideal next vacation, you should first consider the price. It’s thought that the journey into space would cost visitors between $40 million and $60 million. So it might be best to start saving now.
Virgin Galactic, for example, will charge $250,000 for a two-and-half-hour experience which includes six minutes of weightlessness, and the chance to see the curvature of the Earth from space. The company’s spacecraft VSS Unity successfully completed a test run in January, and is expected to start commercial flights this year. During the test, Unity was released from a mothership over the Mojave Desert at around 50,000 feet, and accelerated to Mach 0.9 during a steep descent. The exercise was designed to test the flight performance, stability, and control before a safe landing.
The likes of Stephen Hawking, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Justin Bieber have all reportedly signed up. The spacecraft will be able to take two pilots and six passengers at a time to space. Meanwhile, Blue Origin, founded by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, is also looking to break into the space tourism space, but is yet to reveal how much a ticket would cost.
Other plans are more ambitious. Elon Musk wants to charge $200,000 for a ticket to Mars, with the SpaceX CEO aiming to get one million people to the Red Planet in the next 50 to 150 years.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Read Next
Guides & Tips
A 48 Hour Guide to Astrakhan, Russia
Restaurants
The Best Halal Restaurants in Kaliningrad
History
The Mystery Behind Russia's Buddhist "Miracle"
History
A Soviet Pilot Went Missing in Afghanistan and Was Found 30 Years Later
History
Russian Last Names and Their Meanings
Sports
Incredible Photos From the Longest Bike Race in the World
History
Zhenotdel: The Soviet Union's Feminist Movement
History
A Guide to Cautionary Russian Proverbs and What They Mean
See & Do
Russia's Most Remote Holiday Destinations
History
Unusual Facts About the Soviet Union
History
The Soviet Union’s Best Heart-Throbs and Pinups
Food & Drink
The Best Halal Restaurants in Kazan
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
