Orbite has partnered with Accor to pair immersive space experiences for aspiring astronauts with luxury accommodation. Rose Dykins reports

Space training company Orbite has teamed up with Accor to launch Experience Train Fly itineraries, which combine space-themed experiences and training sessions with luxury travel.

While space agencies like NASA spend years training astronauts for their first mission, Orbite’s offering will open up this experience to space-curious luxury travellers. It will offer a blend of education, training, health and wellness, as well as a luxurious hospitality experience.

Starting in 2025, Orbite's Experience Train Fly itineraries will feature a range of immersive experiences tailored to different levels of space readiness, and customisable for various types of missions.

Customers can secure their place on one of four different programmes. Living in Space immerses guests in the future of space habitats, combined with five-star accommodation at SO/Paris. The four-day itinerary involves a visit to Paris's National Centre fo Space Studies (CNES) where astronauts will share their personal stories about life in space. Guests will also learn about the future of space hotels and explore a BioFarm dedicated to futuristic food.

The Space Health experience focuses on the wellness and the physical demands of being in space, combined with a slice of Caribbean paradise at Baoase Luxury Resort Curaçao. Guests will take part in a daily fitness and nutrition regime, meditation practice and try Orbite's VR spaceflight experience, as part of the holistic programme designed to foster: "an awakened connection to self, and our planet."

The Sea-Space Odyssey programme (also featuring a luxury stay at Baoase Luxury Resort Curaçao) will immerse guests in ocean exploration (an environment more unchartered than outer space) - with three submarine dives on the agenda, and training provided by astronauts and submersible pilot instructors.

Finally, the Antarctic Analog itinerary takes travellers on an eight-day adventure to the South Pole, which involves staying at Echo Base Camp, participating in a space emergency and survival simulation, and enjoying guided mountain and ice cave excursions.

Orbite will also soon offer Train and Fly bundles, which can be added to these itineraries to include more specific, in-depth aspects of space exploration training.Nicolas Gaume, executive chairman of Orbite, says: “You don’t become an astronaut in a day. Astronaut training is a journey that takes time. With the continued support of our visionary shareholders and Accor’s unmatched expertise in hospitality, we are creating a truly holistic experience for our guests – one that seamlessly blends professional space preparation with luxury hospitality – as they embark on their spaceflight journey.”

Agnès Roquefort, head of development for Accor Luxury and Lifestyle, adds: “Accor has always been at the forefront of creating transformative hospitality experiences. We are excited to partner with Orbite to pioneer a new frontier in space hospitality, offering our customers a unique opportunity to explore space while fostering a deeper connection to the wellbeing of Earth.”