Tag

Commercial Space Station

All articles tagged with #commercial space station

space17 days ago•13 min saved

ISS retirement could place Tiangong as Earth’s only permanently crewed orbital outpost

The Wolf Amendment of 2011 blocked NASA-Chinese cooperation, steering China to build its own space station, Tiangong, while the ISS remains the international hub. With the ISS planned to retire around 2030 and no proven commercial crewed replacement ready, Tiangong could become the only permanently crewed outpost in low Earth orbit—though that outcome depends on whether commercial stations can reach readiness in time and on how NASA shifts to private operators. Tiangong’s ongoing crew rotations and infrastructure contrast with the ISS’s multi-country governance, creating a real strategic reshuffle in who occupies and controls the near-Earth space lab landscape.

via Space Daily|

#commercial-space-station #iss #low-earth-orbit

business1 month ago•2 min saved

Vast targets first commercial space station to supersede the ISS

Vast announced a crewed mission to Haven-1, set to launch in early 2027, aiming to become the first commercial space station and a cheaper successor to the ISS; Haven-1 will be a single-module platform hosting four two-week missions over three years, with Haven-2 planned to expand to nine modules by 2030, at roughly five-to-ten times lower cost than the ISS, using SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon 2 and featuring French astronaut Arnaud Prost on the inaugural flight.

via Dawn|

#business #commercial-space-station #haven-1

technology5 months ago•11 min saved

Haven-1 Advances Toward Crewed Launch Following Schedule Slip

Vast Space’s Haven-1, the first commercial space station, is moving into clean-room integration with a launch now targeted for Q1 2027. After an uncrewed Falcon 9 test, a SpaceX Dragon crewed mission could follow once safety milestones are met. Vast envisions short two-week crew rotations and is planning Haven-2 with more docking ports and power. NASA’s phase-two CLD competition remains unsettled, but Vast advocates for two winners to ensure a continuous U.S. presence in low Earth orbit by 2030 and to unlock an broader orbital economy.

via Ars Technica|

#commercial-space-station #crewed-mission #haven-1

space6 months ago•4 min saved

Max Space Announces Commercial Space Station Project

Max Space plans to develop Thunderbird Station, a scalable, expandable commercial space station that can launch on a single Falcon 9 rocket, supporting four people and supporting in-space manufacturing and research, with a prototype set to launch in 2027.

via SpaceNews|

#commercial-space-station #expandable-module #falcon-9

space-and-defense8 months ago•3 min saved

In-Q-Tel Funds Vast Investment

In-Q-Tel, a U.S. national security venture fund, invested in Vast, a company developing commercial space stations, primarily for market insight rather than immediate military use. The investment aims to understand market evolution and potential U.S. government support, with possible future collaborations with the Space Force and opportunities for military personnel in space. The move reflects growing interest in commercial space infrastructure, with strategic implications for national security and space deterrence.

via SpaceNews|

#commercial-space-station #in-q-tel #national-security

science-and-technology9 months ago•7 min saved

Commercial Space Stations: The Future of Human Spaceflight

NASA is transitioning from the ISS to private space stations, with Vast Space planning to launch Haven-1, the world's first commercial space station, in May 2026, as part of a broader move to develop sustainable, private orbital habitats.

via CNN|

#commercial-space-station #haven-1 #nasa

science-and-technology1 year ago•2 min saved

NASA Advances in Commercial Space Station Starlab

NASA-supported commercial space station Starlab has achieved five key development milestones, including design reviews and mockup construction, as it advances toward supporting human life and scientific research in low Earth orbit, with plans for further detailed design and hardware development.

via NASA (.gov)|

#commercial-space-station #low-earth-orbit #nasa

space-exploration1 year ago•3 min saved

ESA Partners with Blue Origin and Thales to Develop Orbital Reef and LEO Capabilities

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed an agreement with Thales Alenia Space and Blue Origin to explore the potential use of Blue Origin's Orbital Reef commercial space station for European payloads, astronauts, and hardware contributions, as part of its strategy to maintain a human presence in low Earth orbit after the International Space Station's retirement.

via SpaceNews|

#commercial-space-station #esa #european-industry

space2 years ago•3 min saved

"Former Voyager Space Executive Joins Vast Space Team"

Vast Space, a commercial space station developer, has hired Clay Mowry, a former executive from Voyager Space, as an adviser. Mowry will provide support for Vast's proposed commercial space stations. Vast is privately developing the Haven-1 crew-tended module and plans to bid on future private astronaut mission opportunities offered by NASA. The company is also facing a lawsuit from a former employee who alleges he was fired after disputes with company executives about planned use of spectrum for Haven-1, which Vast denies.

via SpaceNews|

#clay-mowry #commercial-space-station #employee-lawsuit

spacescience2 years ago•3 min saved

"Storm Delays Axiom 3 Crew's Florida Splashdown Again"

Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission, the first all-European crew of private astronauts at the International Space Station, is extending its stay in low-Earth orbit due to unfavorable weather conditions for splashdown near the Florida coastline. The astronauts are now scheduled to depart the ISS at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday, aiming for a successful return to Earth. Axiom Space aims to build the world’s first commercial space station, with the Ax-3 mission playing a pivotal role in gathering mission data and conducting scientific experiments.

via Florida Today|

#astronaut-mission #axiom-space #commercial-space-station

space-exploration2 years ago•2 min saved

"SpaceX's Starship to Launch Starlab's Private Space Station into Orbit"

Starlab Space has chosen SpaceX's Starship megarocket to launch its giant steel space station, Starlab, into orbit in 2028, as it is the only rocket capable of lifting the massive structure in a single flight. The space station, a joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus, will be fully equipped on the ground for seamless operations and will cater to space agencies, researchers, and commercial companies for various experiments. The megarocket, still in its experimental phase, has a lift capacity of 150 metric tons to low Earth orbit and is designed for full reusability.

via Gizmodo|

#commercial-space-station #space-exploration #spacex

space-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

"Starlab: The First Commercial Space Station Aboard Starship"

Starlab Space, a joint venture of Voyager Space and Airbus Space and Defence, has selected SpaceX’s Starship to launch the Starlab commercial space station on a single flight. The station, designed to be launched on a single flight, will be made of stainless steel and features a large habitation and laboratory module with a smaller service module attached to it for power and propulsion. The companies did not disclose terms of the agreement or a projected launch date, but are confident that Starlab will be launched before the decommissioning of the International Space Station in 2030.

via SpaceNews|

#commercial-space-station #space-technology #spacex

space-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

"Sierra Space Successfully Tests Inflatable Space Module with Controlled Burst"

Sierra Space successfully conducted a burst test on its 20-foot tall inflatable space station module, reaching a pressure point of 77 psi before it burst, exceeding NASA’s recommended level. The module, part of the company’s Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) system, is designed to host astronauts and science experiments in low Earth orbit. Sierra Space aims to contribute to the development of the Orbital Reef space station and prioritize orbital research with practical benefits for Earth, distinguishing itself from other space companies.

via Gizmodo|

#burst-test #commercial-space-station #low-earth-orbit

spaceflight2 years ago•3 min saved

European Space Agency Joins Forces for Future Starlab Space Station

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Voyager Space and Airbus for the upcoming Starlab commercial space station. Set to launch in 2028, Starlab will provide an alternative low-Earth orbit destination after the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS) in 2030. The station will focus on science and technology development, offering opportunities for research, commercial business development, and European industrial and institutional contributions. The collaboration between ESA, Voyager Space, and Airbus aims to extend Europe's footprint in space and advance European science.

via Space.com|

#collaboration #commercial-space-station #european-space-agency

space2 years ago•4 min saved

Northrop Grumman and Voyager Space Forge Partnership for Commercial Space Station

Northrop Grumman and Voyager Space have announced a partnership to develop a commercial space station project. Northrop Grumman will modify its Cygnus spacecraft to dock autonomously with Voyager's Starlab space station, while also ending development of its own proposed commercial station. The partnership aims to combine the strengths and expertise of both companies to create a strong contender for replacing the International Space Station. The collaboration will also allow Northrop to provide Cygnus cargo resupply services to other customers. NASA sees the partnership as a positive development in the evolution of the low Earth orbit economy.

via SpaceNews|

#commercial-space-station #cygnus-spacecraft #northrop-grumman