Orbiting Hotel to launch in 2012

[brellis]

Fly Me to the Moon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

"BARCELONA (Reuters) - "Galactic Suite," the first hotel planned in space, expects to open for business in 2012 and would allow guests to travel around the world in 80 minutes. "<br /><br /><br /><br />If he thinks an orbit is 80 minutes, I ain't gettin in his hotel!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Good luck building that and being operational in 5 years!

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">If he thinks an orbit is 80 minutes, I ain't gettin in his hotel!!!</font><br /><br />To give them their due, the 80 minutes probably came from a reporter exercising a bit of poetic license under the guise of journalism. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Journalism that sloppy ain't journalism.<br /><br />Do you know what the size of an 80 minute orbit is?<br /><br />I'm still researching the calculations, but I believe it's below the surface of the earth, which makes it very difficult to keep the speed up. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">I believe it's below the surface of the earth, which makes it very difficult to keep the speed up.</font><br /><br />Do tell! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[henryhallam]

Yes it works out to about -225km, well into the mantle

 

[henryhallam]

"Galactic Suite began as a hobby for former aerospace engineer Claramunt, until a space enthusiast decided to make the science fiction fantasy a reality by fronting most of the $3 billion needed to build the hotel."<br /><br />If this is true I can think of several better ways to invest $3b in developing a private space industry. But it will still be impressive.

 

[henryhallam]

http://www.galacticsuite.com/<br />The official website looks tacky, cheap, has spelling and grammar errors and also quotes 80 minutes for an orbit. Hmm.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Ah the BT Barnum school of making money <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

If I had $ millions and was a little nutty, I'd go for it. Unfortunately, I'm just nutty. He'll get customers <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[comga]

It's a literary allusion, guys! "Around the world in 80 days"? Jules Verne? Hasn't anyone here read the book? Perhaps you saw the Jackie Chan version? (With Richard Branson as the ticket seller for the balloon ride!) So they switched it to 80 minutes to be cute. "Around the world in 80 sixty-eight second intervals" is just too clumsy. <br /><br />Actually, once said. they believe it, but still can't do the math. They have 15 sunrises per day. That's a 96 minute orbit.<br /><br />There are other aspects that are much worse. They have a cute little rocket with jet engines and a magic fuel. It is shown dropping it's booster below the clouds. Probably an antimatter drive that produces smoke. And their own private Kansai airport with, count them, two artificial island runways. And a lovely space station with no solar panels. Must be that anti-matter engine again. And what is "a slidable diaphram window"? A curtain? At least Velcro walls would work, to a degree.<br /><br />Kool Aid! To the max! Bring on your $3B!

 

[MeteorWayne]

That's very good! Around the world in 80 days/minutes.<br /><br />Nice pick up!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[Huntster]

As I saw on comment elsewhere, "I call shenanigans." Everything about this "venture" looks completely artificial, from the habitat to the space plane to the spaceport. That was only reinforced when I saw the crayon-esque script being used for their main logo, like a five year old wrote it. The site is amateurish, much of it doesn't even work, and it appears you have to be registered (somehow?) to read the blogs? <br /><br />Thanks but no. I'll keep supporting Bigelow. I fully expect Galaxy, Sundancer and BA 330 to be as successful as the pathfinders, whereas I see this as an excuse to run away with three billion bucks. Geez, what BA could develop with that kind of available funds. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[dragon04]

So this guy is going to build modules, launch, and construct in space a hotel in less than 5 years....<br /><br />Riiiiiiiiiiiight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[docm]

Step one: form a joint venture with Bigelow. Then he at least has a shot at it, though perhaps not on that exact timetable. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

3 Billion bones is a lot money.<br /> 5 years is theoretically enough time to orbit a prefab station "if" the technology was already mature(which it is not).<br />5 years would be a very difficult time frame to build & orbit a new ship design from scratch.<br />This smells like a scam to attract gullible investors to me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[brellis]

Boris: <font color="yellow">This smells like a scam to attract gullible investors to me.</font><br /><br />brellis: But why wouldn't they want to attract gullible investors to themselves? <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Step one: form a joint venture with Bigelow. Then he at least has a shot at it, though perhaps not on that exact timetable.</font>/i><br /><br />I would think this is their only reasonable chance for succeeding. If they really did have that much cash (which I doubt), they could buy a Bigelow station and focus on outfitting it with systems unique to their vision.</i>

 

[nuaetius]

Actually looks sort of like a reimaginings of a Bigelow module and a Spacedev shuttle. <br /><br />If you where to request a Cupola instead of a dock or propulsive system on the side not attached to the main bus and had the dock attach at non-90 degree angles a Bigelow stations would look a lot like this. <br /><br />Also the shuttle that they are using looks like someone took a Rocketplane, Space Ship 3, and Space Dev shuttle and mixed the designs up. <br /><br />Once one or all these private systems are up and running I am sure for a few hundred million to each contractor they could purchase these systems. <br />

 

[mccorvic]

Even the Space Island Group seemed to be a better sell than this. Oh well. Did space.com headline the stories where guys were selling real estate on the moon back in the day as well?

 

[docm]

Yes: SDC story link....02 February 2004<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>2.5 million people from 180 countries have bought property on the Moon and Mars in sales that reached $1 million last year.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />and they're still going strong.<br /><br />Lunar Registry site....<br /><br />Lunar Embassy site....<br /><br />You wouldn't believe the scientists, political leaders (both US parties), multinational corporations etc. that have bought lunar deeds as a lark (hopefully!!). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[hk8900]

I think if they have the money, they should try something like this if it is a serious business<br />

 

[docm]

Bigelow modules are set up to use their integrated radiators and solar panels so those Propulsion Bus mounted ones in your drawing may not be necessary. <br /><br />Also; with the panel mounts stuck on the end of a Power Bus how is its orbital maneuvering engine supposed to fire? <br /><br />Here's what they announced a few months ago for their first station, but note that the hub has 2 more docking ports and each module 1 more. <br /><br />The operative metaphor IMO is "TinkerToys". <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nec208]

Well a space hotel by 2012 is not bad .<br /><br />And like others here it looks like they are copying others than building there own.<br /><br />Will not be long to you see them in court for copying others .<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>