Review of the four private space stations presently under construction
Link here. The review provides a nice summary of the status of all four stations, being built by Axiom, Vast, and consortiums led by Blue Origin (Orbital Reef) and Voyager Space (Starlab).
The article included one piece of new news, based on recent stories suggesting major financial issues at Axiom:
As a result of these issues, the Axiom Station is believed to have been downsized to two modules from the originally planned four. There will be a reduced research capability from this arrangement compared to what was expected. However, it remains to be seen if additional capability can be added after the station becomes operational.
The original plan had been to separate the station from ISS once all four modules were launched. Whether it will be able to do so, flying independent of ISS’s systems with only two modules is unclear.
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Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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Link here. The review provides a nice summary of the status of all four stations, being built by Axiom, Vast, and consortiums led by Blue Origin (Orbital Reef) and Voyager Space (Starlab).
The article included one piece of new news, based on recent stories suggesting major financial issues at Axiom:
As a result of these issues, the Axiom Station is believed to have been downsized to two modules from the originally planned four. There will be a reduced research capability from this arrangement compared to what was expected. However, it remains to be seen if additional capability can be added after the station becomes operational.
The original plan had been to separate the station from ISS once all four modules were launched. Whether it will be able to do so, flying independent of ISS’s systems with only two modules is unclear.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
An interesting and timely roundup, especially given Vast’s recent revelation of its Haven-2 plans in Milan. Given that Vast appears to have adequate funds and is following the SpaceX model of being quite vertically integrated as well as in setting aggressive schedule goals, I think the company has to be considered the current front-runner. Starlab, I would judge to be in second place, Orbital Reef to be in third place and Axiom to be bringing up the rear in fourth place.
If Axiom falls by the wayside, we would not only lose the planned Axiom Station, but NASA would also lose its only remaining lunar EVA space suit contractor. That would, of course, make SpaceX the only entity likely able to produce suitable suits on the schedule required – something it seems pretty clear SpaceX intends to pursue even if Axiom survives.
I think SpaceX’s Starship efforts in 2025 – while also including the likely first deployments of Version 3 Starlinks – will be dominated by aggressive pushes to advance all of the capabilities needed to support SpaceX’s Artemis program obligations as well as major progress on a Dear Moon-ish Starship version to support launch and return of sizable crews directly from and back to Earth, respectively. NASA has all but declared SpaceX to be the thing holding up the notional Artemis mission schedule. I don’t think Musk likes that at all so I foresee a full-court press in the coming year to make it plain, by next year’s end, that SpaceX will have all of its Artemis ducks in a row before NASA can say the same – especially whatever NASA decides to do about the problematic Orion heat shield.
I’ll be shocked if any of these are ever launched, and even more so, manned, as independent (ie., not attached to ISS) space stations.
Unless SpaceX decides to get in the space station business, leaving a Starship in orbit with as much habitable volume as ISS, I doubt there will be any private space stations. This is just another pipe dream for dumb investment bankers.
VAST thinks big at least