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List of commercial space stations

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This is a list of current and planned commercial space stations.

Current

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While commercial space flights have been flown to the International Space Station (ISS),[1] there are currently no commercial space stations in operation.

Planned

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Axiom Station

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Main article: Axiom Station

Axiom Station is a planned modular space station designed by Axiom Space for commercial space activities and space tourism uses. Axiom Space gained initial NASA approval for the venture in January 2020.[2] It is unsure what launch vehicles will be used to launch these modules.

At least five modules are expected to be launched to assemble the station. The first module, the Payload Power Thermal Module (PPTM), is planned to be launched no earlier than 2027 and dock with one of two ISS ports currently used by cargo spacecraft. After the launch of the second module, Habitat One (Hab-1), PPTM will undock from the ISS and join with Hab-1 to form the core Axiom Station.[3]

Canadarm2 may continue its operations on Axiom Station after the retirement of the ISS in 2030.[4][5]

Orbital Reef

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Main article: Orbital Reef

On October 25, 2021, Blue Origin announced that together with Sierra Space it would build a 'Mixed-use space business park' in LEO called Orbital Reef, to 'open multiple new markets in space, [and] provide anyone with the opportunity to establish their own address on orbit. [..it] will offer research, industrial, international, and commercial customers the cost competitive end-to-end services they need including space transportation and logistics, space habitation, equipment accommodation, and operations including onboard crew. The station will start operating in the second half of this decade..'[6] Further partners are Boeing, Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, and Arizona State University.[7]

Starlab

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Main article: Starlab Space Station

Starlab is the name given to the planned LEO space station designed by Nanoracks for commercial space activities uses. The station is expected to be launched in 2028.

The company released preliminary plans in October 2021, where the main structure of Starlab consisted of a large inflatable habitat to be built by Lockheed Martin and a metallic docking node. In 2023, the design changed to a metallic structure with Airbus Space as the main partner.[8]

The station is being designed to support 4 persons in 340 m3 of volume. The station also features a 60 kW power and propulsion element, a large robotic arm for servicing cargo and external payloads. The company has partnered with other companies to realise the project:[9]

  • Nanoracks: Nanoracks owns and operates Starlab and GWC Science Park.
  • Voyager Space: Voyager, the majority stakeholder in Nanoracks;
  • Airbus: Airbus builds spacecraft systems. The company serves as the technical integrator for Starlab and will develop Starlab's habitat module. After launch, Airbus will operate the system under Nanoracks' leadership.

Haven-1

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Main article: Haven-1

In May 2023, Vast announced that they had purchased a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch for the Haven-1 space station, targeted for launch as early as August 2025.[10]

Haven-2

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In October 2024, Vast announced Haven-2, a planned successor to Haven-1. It's intended to be much larger than Haven-1, with modular assembly and the intention of replacing the International Space Station. The first module of Haven-2 is expected to be launched by SpaceX Starship in 2028, if the station is approved during the second phase of NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations program in 2026.[11]

Canceled

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Bigelow Aerospace space station

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Main article: Bigelow Aerospace

Bigelow Aerospace proposed an expandable space station for commercial use. Air would have be pumped into the station to inflate each piece once they arrived on orbit. Bigelow ceased operations in 2020.

Northrop Grumman

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Northrop Grumman Commercial Space Station concept, featured at IAC 2022.

In December 2021, Northrop Grumman signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA under the Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development program for $125.6 million to design a commercial free-flying space station in low Earth orbit (LEO).[12] Northrop Grumman had a web page describing their "vision for space-as-a-service" which "focuses on delivering an accessible, full-service commercial space station in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) that will continue the work of the International Space Station (ISS), while expanding across multiple markets to provide optimized and tailored support for a new commercial economy."[13] Northrop Grumman was partnering with Rhodium Scientific on bio-tech and bio-pharma research in low-earth orbit.[14]

In October 2023, Northrop-Grumman announced that they would abandon the concept and instead join forces on Voyager's Starlab space station.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Paravano, Alessandro; Locatelli, Giorgio; Trucco, Paolo (2024). "Creating and Claiming Social Value by Joining the Governance of Science-Driven Capital Projects: An Investigation in the New Space Economy". IEEE Engineering Management Review: 1–44. doi:10.1109/EMR.2024.3428327. ISSN 0360-8581.
  2. ^ Foust, Jeff (28 January 2020). "NASA selects Axiom Space to build commercial space station module". SpaceNews. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. ^ Foust, Jeff (18 December 2024). "Axiom Space revises space station assembly plans". SpaceNews. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Assembly Sequence: Watch the Axiom Segment of the ISS constructed module-by-module". Axiom Space. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. ^ "A Private Space Station Might Be Born From the ISS". seeker.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Blue Origin and Sierra Space developing commercial space station".
  7. ^ "Home". orbitalreef.com.
  8. ^ Hepher, Tim; Roulette, Joey (2 August 2023). "Voyager Space and Airbus deepen tie-up on new space station". Reuters. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Starlab". Nanoracks.
  10. ^ "A start-up teams with SpaceX to be first to orbit a commercial space station". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  11. ^ Foust, Jeff (13 October 2024). "Vast releases design of Haven-2 commercial space station". SpaceNews. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Northrop Grumman Signs Agreement with NASA to Design Space Station for Low Earth Orbit". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Commercial Space Station". Northrop Grumman. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Northrop Grumman and Rhodium Scientific to Collaborate on Bio-Tech and Bio-Pharma Research in Low-Earth Orbit". Northrop Grumman. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023.
  15. ^ Foust, Jeff (5 October 2023). "Northrop Grumman to join Voyager Space commercial space station project". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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