Russian team to build hotel in space

International Space Station

In a bid to cash in on private aerospace tourism, a Russian developer said it plans to build hotel accommodations on the International Space Station, according to Reuters. Energia, a partly state-owned contractor, has partnered with investment and marketing firm Orbital Technologies to help develop the project. The hotel will fit about seven guests at a time and developers said they hope to complete construction shortly after 2015. Alexander Derechin, deputy chief designer with Energia, said he’s optimistic that in-space tourism will be an expanding field. “Commercial space ships are being built around the world — they will need to fly somewhere,” Derechin said. [Reuters via ABC news]