In October Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin announced that it, together with Sierra Space, would be building a commercial space station in low Earth orbit.
That project, along with three other proposed space stations, have been selected to receive funding through the Space Act Agreements. An estimated $416.6 million has been awarded to the following firms:
- Blue Origin – $130 million
- Nanorack – $160 million
- Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation – $125.6 million
Why is NASA funding these three proposed space stations? Quite simply it wants to maintain the USA’s presence in space but also wants to transition away from using the International Space Station.
“With commercial companies now providing transportation to low-Earth orbit in place, we are partnering with U.S. companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space,” said NASA administrator Bill Nelson.
The Nanoracks project is called Starlab and there is a targeted launch of the space station set for 2027. The lab will consist of a biology lab, plant habitation lab, physical science and materials research lab as well as an open workbench area. As many as four astronauts can occupy the Starlab at a time.
The Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation mirrors the International Space Station in that it will allow for future expansion via multiple docking ports. While the ISS is generally used for scientific purposes, the Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation lab will prove a base model for extending the capabilities of science, space tourism, and building infrastructure beyond the initial design.
“NASA estimates the agency’s future needs in low-Earth orbit will require continuous accommodations and training for at least two crew members, as well as the ability to support a national orbiting laboratory and the performance of approximately 200 investigations annually to support human research, technology demonstrations, biological and physical science,” the space agency said.
Low Earth orbit is about to get very busy, and we’re not even taking into account the thousands of internet satellites Amazon, SpaceX and others are launching over the next few years.
[Source – NASA]
