In coordination with NASA, Axiom Space modified its deliberate meeting sequence to speed up its potential to function as a viable free-flying area station and cut back International Space Station reliance throughout meeting.
NASA awarded Axiom Space a firm-fixed value, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract in January 2020, because the company continues to open the area station for business use. The contract supplies perception into the event of a minimum of one liveable business module to be connected to the area station with the purpose of changing into a free-flying vacation spot in low Earth orbit previous to retirement of the orbiting laboratory in 2030.
The preliminary Axiom Space plan was to launch and connect its first module, Habitat 1, to the area station, adopted by three further modules.
Under the corporate’s new meeting sequence, the Payload, Power, and Thermal Module will launch to the orbiting laboratory first, permitting it to depart as early as 2028 and grow to be a free-flying vacation spot generally known as Axiom Station. In free-flight, Axiom Space will proceed meeting of the business vacation spot, including the Habitat 1 module, an airlock, Habitat 2 module, and the Research and Manufacturing Facility.
“The up to date meeting sequence has been coordinated with NASA to assist each NASA and Axiom Space wants and plans for a clean transition in low Earth orbit,” stated Angela Hart, supervisor, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “The ongoing design and growth of economic locations by our companions is crucial to the company’s plan to obtain providers in low Earth orbit to assist our wants in microgravity.”
The revised meeting sequence will allow an earlier departure from the area station, expedite Axiom Station’s potential to assist free-flight operations, and make sure the orbiting laboratory stays ready for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle and finish of operational life no sooner than 2030.
“The International Space Station has offered a one-of-a-kind scientific platform for almost 25 years,” stated Dana Weigel, supervisor, International Space Station Program at NASA Johnson. “As we method the tip of area station’s operational life, it’s critically vital that we glance to the way forward for low Earth orbit and assist these follow-on locations to make sure we proceed NASA’s presence in microgravity, which started by way of the International Space Station.”
NASA is supporting the design and growth of a number of business area stations, together with Axiom Station, by way of funded and unfunded agreements. The present design and growth section will likely be adopted by the procurement of providers from a number of corporations.
NASA’s low Earth orbit microgravity technique builds on the company’s intensive human spaceflight expertise to advance future scientific and exploration targets. As the International Space Station nears the tip of operations, NASA plans to transition to a brand new low Earth orbit mannequin to proceed leveraging microgravity advantages. Through business partnerships, NASA goals to take care of its management in microgravity analysis and guarantee continued advantages for humanity.
Learn extra about NASA’s low Earth orbit microgravity technique at:
https://www.nasa.gov/leomicrogravitystrategy
News Media Contacts
Claire O’Shea
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov
Anna Schneider
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
anna.c.schneider@nasa.gov
