Watch view from inside Jeff Bezos’ ritzy Orbital Reef ‘space park’ where tourists will float 230 miles over Earth
TOURISTS could be flocking to a fancy space station floating above Earth in just a few years.
The Orbital Reef station has been described as a “mixed-use business park” that will serve as a science lab, a hotel for tourists, and much more.
It’s masterminded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos‘ Blue Origin space company – along with Sierra Space, the business behind the runway-friendly Dream Chaser spaceplane.
Sierra Space describes it as “the first commercially owned and operated space station, offering unparalleled commerce, research, and tourism opportunities”.
It’s designed to float in a low-Earth orbit around 230 miles over our heads.
Early concepts for the space station were revealed in late 2021, and it’s expected that parts of the space station will be operational soon as 2027.
And it’s meant to be fully operational by 2030 – so mark your calendars for your big space vacation.
Blue Origin says the idea behind the space station is to allow people to spend time in space relaxing or even working – but without enormous fees.
“Reducing the costs associated with living and working in space is paramount to a vibrant future for the benefit of Earth,” the space giant explained.
“Blue Origin is focused on services, technical support, transportation, payload delivery, security, standardization, and delivering the best return on investment for Nasa and future residents.”
The idea is that the Orbital Reef station will be modular, allowing it to be highly customisable.
So you could add different modules over time, like extra living quarters, viewing decks, or research labs.
“Think spacious modules with large windows to view Earth, our blue origin, while experiencing the thrill of weightlessness in complete comfort,” Blue Origin boasts, on its website.
“Distinct quarters will be designed for personal and business use, and large hatches create a safe and inspiring environment.
“We aim to provide a truly extraordinary experience, whether you are in orbit for research, logistics, tourism, or other applications.”
Earlier this year, Nasa – which helps to fund Orbital Reef – completed tests for the station’s life support system.
Orbital Reef is meant to have a similar life support system to the ISS< where everything is monitored and controlled.
That means recycling and reclamation of water and oxygen, including recovering urine.
“These milestones are critical to ensuring that a commercial destination can support human life,” said Nasa’s Angela Hart.
“So Nasa astronauts can continue to have access to low Earth orbit to conduct important scientific research in the unique microgravity environment.
What is the ISS?
Here's what you need to know about the International Space Station...
- The International Space Station, often abbreviated to ISS, is a large space craft that orbits Earth and houses astronauts who go up there to complete scientific missions
- Many countries worked together to build it and they work together to use it
- It is made up of many pieces, which astronauts had to send up individually on rockets and put together from 1998 to 2000
- Ever since the year 2000, people have lived on the ISS
- Nasa uses the station to learn about living and working in space
- It is approximately 250 miles above Earth and orbits around the planet just like a satellite
- Living inside the ISS is said to be like living inside a big house with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a gym, lots of science labs and a big bay window for viewing Earth
“Additionally, each milestone that is completed allows Nasa to gain insight into our partner’s progress on station design and development.”
Nasa is backing the project as it eventually seeks to shutter the International Space Station.
Elon Musk‘s SpaceX is due to bring the ISS down in 2031, ending its 32-year mission.
The ISS is expected to break up, landing in a 1,200-mile-wide debris field over the ocean.
It’s expected that this will be over the South Pacific Oceanic Uninhabited Area, an ultra-remote sea region known as Point Nemo.
This is a “rocket graveyard” where doomed space debris ends up.
It’s around 1,700 miles from the nearest piece of land.
Orbital Reef is one of the commercial replacements that will allow research to continue in low-Earth orbit.
“We are on the doorstep of the most profound industrial revolution in human history,” said Sierra Space’s Tom Vice.
“An industrial revolution marked by the transition from the last 60 years of space exploration to a future where humanity extends our factories and cities into space.
“It isn’t solely about tourism – it is about unlocking the next great discoveries using the microgravity factories that we will build just 250 miles above the Earth’s surface.
“The microgravity factories and services provided by Orbital Reef have the potential to revolutionize every industry and become a major growth contributor to the U.S. and world economies.”