Building a space station ranks as one of the biggest undertakings in human history, and it demands an extremely high cost. Anyone who aspires to own a private station in space must account for expenses that can reach tens of billions of dollars.

The International Space Station (ISS) provides the best example. Over two decades, nations around the world spent more than $100 billion to develop, build, and operate it. That figure excludes annual maintenance, which adds billions of dollars each year. Even with today’s innovations, a private corporation or individual would still spend no less than $30 to $50 billion to attempt the same.

Several factors drive the high cost. Specialized engineers build the modules to withstand harsh space conditions. Launch expenses remain high, and reusable rockets cost thousands of dollars. Engineers also require advanced technology and substantial resources to build radiation shielding, solar power units, and life-support systems.

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Private businesses like SpaceX and Blue Origin cut costs by providing modular stations and reusable rockets. NASA funds commercial space station programs to replace the ISS with privately run outposts. Industry experts estimate that smaller private stations, depending on size and function, may cost between $5 and $10 billion.

Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos may finance such projects, but the average person still cannot afford to build a personal space station. Even with falling expenses, operating and maintaining a station demands continuous funding. In short, only governments and the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs can build a personal space station, while ordinary people can only watch as the dream of private orbital real estate slowly turns into reality.

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