Nasa has chosen the start-up that will build the first "private habitat" module for the ISS – revealing concept images and videos of the sci-fi residence.

Last year, Nasa revealed plans to allow tourists to visit the ISS from 2020 onwards.

Until now, the floating space lab had only been accessible to astronauts representing state-level space agencies.

Under the new rules, companies can now take "private astronauts" to the ISS for up to 30 days.

And Nasa has commissioned Houston-based start-up Axiom Space to build the first habitat module for commercial space tourists.

Axiom's space habitat will be capable of housing eight crew members, each with their own "nest-like cabin".

The living module also promises super-fast communications back to home and "extraordinary, unobstructed views of Earth".

That comes courtesy of what Axiom claims will be the largest window observatory ever constructed for space.