Odd News

According to the architects the first space hotel in history will be ready to welcome first visitors as soon as 2012. However, not everyone will be able to afford such a luxury since the cost of three-night stay is about four million dollars. Naturally, one cannot travel to space without a proper preparation and so the price will include also eight-week training course. The Galactic Suite Space Resort was designed by Spanish architects who claim three years is enough time to complete this more than ambitious project. The Galactic Suite Ltd CEO Xavier Claramunt is convinced space travel has a great future before it. 'It's very normal to think that your children, possibly wi! thin 15 years, could spend a weekend in space,' he said. One is willing to take his words seriously considering the fact that the first commercial spaceport in the world is being built in New Mexico. Spaceport America is expected to be completed in 2010. Up to now six suborbital missions have already been launched from the port successfully. The company behind the development of the port is Virgin Galactic, owned by British industrialist Sir Charles Branson who plans to use it for providing suborbital spaceflights for paying public. One ride will cost you about $200,000. The Galactic Suite Ltd plans to start with single pod or capsule that could hold four guests and two pilots. "When the passengers arrive in the rocket, they will join it for 3 days, rocket and capsule. With this we create in the tourist a confidence that he hasn't been abandoned. After 3 days the passenger returns to the transport rocket and returns to earth," says Claramunt. So far more than 200 people exp! ressed their interest in the possibility of spending a few day! s in suc h an unusual environment. About 40 have already made reservations.

related story (sgx15813): http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091102/od_nm/us_hotel;_ylt=Ap2V...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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