Report: Russian firm to build space hotel

Vacationers who have money to burn may want to try this out starting 2016 – a five-day stay in a space hotel. Russia has announced plans for an orbiting hotel that can house seven guests in four cabins, with a view of the Earth below, UK's The Register reported. "Our planned module inside will not remind you of the International Space Station. 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," it quoted Sergei Kostenko, chief executive of Orbital Technologies which will construct the hotel, as saying. The report said a five-day stay will cost £100,000, on top of £500,000 for the journey - an equivalent of P42.034 million. It will take about two days to get there aboard a Soyuz rocket, and an experienced crew will accompany them, the report added. At the orbiting hotel, visitors can choose to have horizontal or vertical beds, while showers will be sealed to prevent a mess. Guests will dine on food prepared on Earth to be reheated in microwave ovens, and have a view of space with binoculars and cameras in the room pods. While iced tea, mineral water and fruit juices will be available, alcohol will be strictly prohibited. In contrast, the Register reported crews aboard the International Space Station have to settle for sponge baths, and have their meals via freeze-dried tubes. At the orbiting hotel, toilets will use flowing air instead of water, while waste water will be recycled and the air will be filtered to remove odor and bacteria. However, the hotel may also be used as an emergency stop for the International Space Station if there is a crisis there. — LBG, GMA News