We will soon enter a new era of space, dominated by companies that build stations to orbit our planet.
The International Space Station has served us well for the nearly 24 years it has been in service, but like anything, there will be a day when it will be decommissioned. This day will be in the early 2030s, and from what I can see, there are no plans for a newer version in the future. This will make China’s Tiangong space station the only space station owned and operated by a nation’s space agency orbiting in low Earth orbit (although NASA should have its own station). Lunar Gateway orbiting the Moon at this time).
A representation of the modules that Axiom Space will add to the ISS (Credit: Axiom Space)
But none of this means the end of the space stations orbiting our planet. Instead, we are heading for a new era full of space stations owned and operated by companies rather than nations. Welcome to the era of commercial space stations.
I want to tell you today about a company I find most interesting, Axiom Space because they are competing to create the world’s first commercial space station. Founded recently in 2016, its goal is to launch the first part of its station by the end of 2024, just 8 years after its founding! The modules of your space station will start as an attachment to the ISS. They will then separate these modules when the ISS is out of service and then these parts will serve as the Axiom space station. The modules they plan to build include a habitat for the crew, a research and manufacturing facility, and a large window to see the Earth.
How the Axiom space station looks like (Credit: Axiom Space)
One of its main objectives is to use the knowledge acquired from conducting research in the microgravity environments of space to manufacture revolutionary technologies. Research at the ISS has already led to many innovations, and Axiom Space hopes to do the same with its station. These advances range from 3D printing organs to the development of new alloys.
But I know there is a big question in my head: will they succeed? This question is not easy to answer, as there are so many different variables to keep in mind, but let’s look at what we know.
First, Axiom Space was founded by a former International Space Station program director named Michael T. Suffredini. With this experience in his belt, you might think he knows what he’s doing when it comes to building a space station. In addition, the leadership team consists primarily of former NASA employees, including former NASA Charles Bolden.
Ax-1 Private Astronaut Mission Crew Members (Credit: CNN)
Second, Axiom Space has already begun at least part of its mission. One of the services they offer is the organization of private space astronaut missions to the ISS, and they have already completed the first one. You may have heard of the Ax-1 mission, which was the first private astronaut mission to the ISS. Commanded by former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, this mission is just the beginning. Its second mission is scheduled for later this year or early next year.
A video posted by Axiom Space about your station (Credit: Axiom Space)
Given these qualifications, I am willing to put some confidence in them. While we still have to wait until 2024 to see if they meet their space station manufacturing plans, I think the future looks promising for this young company. For one thing, I’m looking forward to the day when we see projects like the Axiom space station finally take flight and revolutionize the space industry.
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Axiom Space, “Axiom Station”
Space Axiom, “Research”
Space axiom, “Why space?”
Thorbecke, C, “What You Need to Know About Axiom Space, the Company Behind the First Fully Private Mission to the ISS,” CNN Business, April 8, 2022