(Blue Origin)
American companies Blue Origin and Sierra Space have announced the development of a private space station in low Earth orbit.
It can potentially be used by any companies and countries, including those that do not yet have their own space program.
The project will use unusual technologies, including inflatable modules and a single-seat flying vehicle for working in open space without a spacesuit.
The station is expected to begin operation in the second half of the 2020s.
In the last decade, more and more private companies have jumped into astronautics, performing more and more important tasks.
Thus, a significant part of the astronauts enters orbit on private spaceships, and in the future the lunar program "Artemis" most of the flights will be performed by "private traders"
Those companies will also carry out all missions for the delivery of goods and landing on the surface.
But the main permanent bases in space - both the existing ISS and China's Tianhe, and the planned circumlunar Gateway - are still being established and maintained by states.
But private projects are gradually appearing, one of which was presented by Blue Origin and Sierra Space.
The new station was named Orbital Reef.
It will consist of several rigid modules assembled into one long structure, and several side modules of different sizes, some of which will be inflatable.
The modules will perform different functions.
In particular, scientific laboratories and compartments for plants, as well as a gym and even a space gazebo.
It is assumed that the station will be simultaneously used by many companies and space agencies, which will be able to modify the internal space to suit their needs.
Blue Origin will be responsible for the creation of large rigid modules and cargo delivery on the New Glenn rocket
Sierra Space will provide the project with inflatable modules, which it is already testing, and the Dream Chaser spaceplane, both in a cargo and manned version.
The companies have announced several other partner companies, including Boeing and Genesis Engineering Solutions.
The first will deliver people and cargo to the station on the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, as well as provide a scientific module
The second will create (and is already testing) a vehicle for spacewalks.
It will fly around the station and allow you to interact with it without a spacesuit, using robotic arms.
Source:
- Blue Origin: https://www.blueorigin.com/news/orbital-reef-commercial-space-station
- YouTube: