2023-08-08 21:04:22
The latest news is that NASA is planning to use SpaceX Starship as a real space station.
The Starship might therefore be used to serve as an anchor point in Earth orbit, offering a diverse range of applications.
SpaceX Starship: a new research platform in orbit
NASA is collaborating with SpaceX to study the feasibility of transform the SpaceX Starship as an orbital destination. If this idea materializes, the Starship might serve as a versatile platform for research and commerce activities in orbit.
The SpaceX Starship might become an option for NASA among various potential space station solutions and technology projects. That is to say the options which aim to supporting the emerging economy in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). As the International Space Station (ISS) nears its planned operational end by 2030, the space agency is preparing for its phased termination.
In recent years, NASA has entered into partnerships with several companies to promote the development of commercial space stations in LEO. She granted grants totaling $415 million at Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and Nanoracks. It has also signed a partnership agreement with Axiom Space to hook their own commercial modules to the ISS. These elements of Axiom should, however, allow the formation of an independent private space station in orbit.
Access to NASA expertise thanks to SpaceX Starship
In return, NASA expanded these initiatives through the program Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 (CCSC-2). This program operates through unfunded Space Act agreements, providing companies with access to NASA technical expertise and advice. On June 15, NASA released the list of companies that might benefit from its technical advice. Of which Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space, Special Aerospace Services, ThinkOrbital Inc., Vast Space LLC et SpaceX.
Previously, SpaceX had already obtained NASA’s first human landing services contract for the Artemis program, aimed at developing a version of the Starship and allowing astronauts to land on the Moon. Throughout its development, SpaceX has presented the Starship as a multipurpose spacecraft. When it was revealed in 2016, when it was called the “interplanetary transport system”, Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, claimed that the giant spacecraft might transport up to 100 people and cargo to Mars by a single flight, in addition to evoking rapid trips to Earth.
From dream to reality
After many renderings and a few years of development, the SpaceX Starship is finally getting closer to reality. Stacked atop its Super Heavy booster, the complete rocket is 120 meters high with a diameter of 9 meters, with a 150 ton orbit launch capability. So far, SpaceX has only completed one full test flight of the Starship. The launch took place on April 20, 2023. Results: successful takeoff and some problems that triggered the self-destruction of the ship. However, a second launch is planned in the coming months.
The idea of using the SpaceX Starship as a space station, although still in concept stage, is attracting interest due to the ship’s impressive size. The only space station with a comparable interior volume would be the old NASA Skylab Stationwhich was only 6.61 meters in diameter.
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