First space hotel

The Galactic Suite Space Resort, will launch in 2012

It's certainly not a bargain, but then, space travel isn't cheap these days.When The Galactic Suite Space Resort opens for business in 2012, well-heeled guests will be charged $4.4 million for a three night stay at the first planned hotel in space - eight-week training course on a tropical island included.Reuters reports that Galactic Suite Ltd, the company behind the space resort, announced that the project is still on target to open its portals in 2012. The Spanish architects plan to initially orbit a single pod, which can hold four guests and two astronaut pilots, 280 miles above the earth. In order to maintain its orbit, the pod would travel at 18,641 miles per hour.Guests would hitch a ride up with British tycoon Richard Branson's space tours firm, Virgin Galactic, at a cost of $200,000 a ride. Once on board, guests would experience the perks of space travel - wearing a velcro suit for easy maneuverability, seeing the sun rise 15 times a day, and circling the globe every 80 minutes.Even in these tough economic times, demand is high. According to the Reuters article, over 200 people have inquired about the space hotel and "at least 43 people have already reserved."

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The first hotel in space is on target to accept its first paying guests within three years, its creators claim / Galactic Suite Space Resort

The Barcelona-based architects of The Galactic Suite Space Resort say it will cost $4.4 million for a three-night stay at the hotel.

The price includes an eight-week training course on a tropical island.

During their stay, guests would see the sun rise 15 times a day and travel around the world every 80 minutes.

They would wear velcro suits so they can crawl around their pod rooms by sticking themselves to the walls like Spider-Man.

Galactic Suite Ltd, set up in 2007, hopes to start its project with a single pod in orbit 450km above the Earth, travelling at 30,000km/h, with the capacity to hold four guests and two astronaut-pilots.

It will take a day-and-a-half to reach the pod, with no staff to greet the traveller.

More than 200 people have expressed an interest in travelling to the space hotel and at least 43 people have already reserved.

Critics have questioned the project, saying the time frame is unreasonable and also where the money is coming from to finance the project,

An anonymous billionaire space enthusiast has granted $3 billion to finance the project.

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