Oct 30, 2021 12:40 AM
(This post was last modified: Oct 30, 2021 12:41 AM by C C.)
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/...s-red-hot/
EXCERPT: . . . Although nothing has been formalized, a general consensus has emerged among the international partners that the International Space Station can probably keep flying through 2028 or 2030. But after that? NASA realizes it needs a succession plan.
Politicians and policymakers have started employing the spectre of the dreaded "g" word, saying NASA must avoid a "gap" in flying a low-Earth-orbit space station. This has become especially urgent with China's recent, successful launch of its own Tiangong space station in April. In response to these concerns, NASA has hatched a plan. Recognizing the maturing US commercial space industry, NASA intends to become an "anchor tenant" of one or more privately developed space stations.
"We're seeing a slow buildup to something significant," said Jeff Manber, chief executive of Nanoracks. "We're entering an era when there will be private space stations. It's clear the political stars have aligned. Congress has realized that the ISS is coming to an end at some point, and we have to prepare so there is no space station gap."
Now, we're finally getting a glimpse of what such a future might look like and how fierce the competition may be. A Houston-based company called Axiom Space has been most public about its intentions, talking for a few years now about developing the world's "first commercial space station." But this week, two other options emerged for NASA: Nanoracks and Lockheed Martin announced their intent to build a space station called "Starlab," and another team led by Blue Origin and Sierra Space revealed plans to construct an "Orbital Reef."
There will likely be more bidders soon offering private station concepts as well. For the first time, Congress looks like it will appropriate significant funding for what NASA calls "Commercial LEO Destinations." And the government money may eventually get much, much bigger.
Presently, NASA spends about $4 billion annually for its low-Earth-orbit program. This includes maintenance of the space station itself, cargo and crew transportation, space communications, and more. No one expects NASA to spend this much on commercial space stations, but it will need to spend a sizable fraction of its current ISS budget if any of these commercial stations are to be fully realized.
With this week's announcements, the food fight for that funding is now well and truly underway... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPT: . . . Although nothing has been formalized, a general consensus has emerged among the international partners that the International Space Station can probably keep flying through 2028 or 2030. But after that? NASA realizes it needs a succession plan.
Politicians and policymakers have started employing the spectre of the dreaded "g" word, saying NASA must avoid a "gap" in flying a low-Earth-orbit space station. This has become especially urgent with China's recent, successful launch of its own Tiangong space station in April. In response to these concerns, NASA has hatched a plan. Recognizing the maturing US commercial space industry, NASA intends to become an "anchor tenant" of one or more privately developed space stations.
"We're seeing a slow buildup to something significant," said Jeff Manber, chief executive of Nanoracks. "We're entering an era when there will be private space stations. It's clear the political stars have aligned. Congress has realized that the ISS is coming to an end at some point, and we have to prepare so there is no space station gap."
Now, we're finally getting a glimpse of what such a future might look like and how fierce the competition may be. A Houston-based company called Axiom Space has been most public about its intentions, talking for a few years now about developing the world's "first commercial space station." But this week, two other options emerged for NASA: Nanoracks and Lockheed Martin announced their intent to build a space station called "Starlab," and another team led by Blue Origin and Sierra Space revealed plans to construct an "Orbital Reef."
There will likely be more bidders soon offering private station concepts as well. For the first time, Congress looks like it will appropriate significant funding for what NASA calls "Commercial LEO Destinations." And the government money may eventually get much, much bigger.
Presently, NASA spends about $4 billion annually for its low-Earth-orbit program. This includes maintenance of the space station itself, cargo and crew transportation, space communications, and more. No one expects NASA to spend this much on commercial space stations, but it will need to spend a sizable fraction of its current ISS budget if any of these commercial stations are to be fully realized.
With this week's announcements, the food fight for that funding is now well and truly underway... (MORE - missing details)