Nuclear-Powered Sky Hotel Concept Imagines Star-Lit Views & Never Touching Down
Video screenshot via Hashem Al-Ghaili, featured with permission
If a space hotel sounds too distant, you might be more inclined to put your feet up at this perpetually-levitating hotel in the sky. It’s just a fantasy for now, but that hasn’t stopped people from envisioning themselves in its lofty rooms and lounges.
The head-in-clouds concept—dreamed up by concept artist Tony Holmsten and visualized with animation by Yemeni science communicator and video producer Hashem Al-Ghaili—imagines a sky hotel called the Sky Cruise which functions like a commercial plane “while offering the epitome of luxury.”
The airborne vessel is propelled by 20 electric engines, which run on a small nuclear reactor with a “highly-controlled fusion reaction.”
Video screenshot via Hashem Al-Ghaili, featured with permission
Unlike commercial flights, the hotel doesn’t need fuel and is envisaged to rarely land, if ever. Instead, passengers enter the venue via regular jets. Supplies, maintenance, and repairs would also all be delivered in mid-air.
Video screenshot via Hashem Al-Ghaili, featured with permission
The flying cruise could carry some 5,000 guests. Once in, theycould take an elevator to access amenities like an entertainment deck, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, swimming pools, sports centers, theaters, and playgrounds.
Video screenshot via Hashem Al-Ghaili, featured with permission
There’d also be meeting rooms, event halls, wedding halls, medical facilities, and viewing domes for panoramas of the endless sky—and even the Northern Lights.
Video screenshot via Hashem Al-Ghaili, featured with permission
Video screenshot via Hashem Al-Ghaili, featured with permission
To alleviate inevitable turbulence, the vessel’s command deck is envisioned with advanced artificial intelligence to predict disturbances minutes before they roll in. Upon detection of turbulence, the system would balance it out with anti-vibrations.
You’re probably reading all this and scoffing at its logistics. Well, you’re not the only one. There’s a reason scientists are working on space colonies instead of sky residences that never land.
One commenter on YouTube writes: “If physics and aerodynamics didn’t exist, then this vessel might actually be able to take off.” Seconding this, another says: “This thing is supposed to fly… ergo, [designers] need to adhere to the principles of aerodynamics.”
“That thing is massive. It’s at least 20 times larger than any commercial airplane,” comments another viewer. “I can’t even imagine the amount of maintenance something this massive would need. And how many pilots would you need to fly that thing?”
The project is unrealistic, sure. But even if it were feasible, could you imagine how much a night at the Sky Cruise would set one back?
[via Futurism and The National News, video and images by Hashem Al-Ghaili and featured with permission]
