2023-08-14 07:21:16
Today, there are two space stations in Earth orbit: the famous ISSwhich has been operating since 1998, and the Chinese station Tiangong. Recently, the start-up aerospace Vast announced plans to build and launch the world’s first commercial station, Haven-1, in Earth orbit. She will be helped by SpaceX to launch the massive structure into space and prepare the astronauts for flight. The launch of the new station will not take place before August 2025 at the earliest, and the date might be pushed back. In this case, the Vast startup will be left behind by its competitors: Axiom, Nanoracks, Lockheed Martin and Voyager Space also have commercial space station projects.
Commercial Space Station Haven-1
The startup Vast was founded relatively recently, in 2021. It recently announced on its website that it plans to launch a commercial space station, Haven-1on theearth orbit in a few years. The structure will measure 10 meters of long et 3.8 meters of diameter. Four people will be able to live inside the resort at the same time. In addition to the equipment needed for scientific experiments, the Wi-Fi et electricity will be available on board. Food and other necessities will also be delivered to the crew.
The station Haven-1 will be launched into space using the rocket Falcon 9 of SpaceX. The first human flight to the commercial station will take place as part of the mission Vast-1. Four astronauts will ride in the reusable Dragon spacecraft, which will dock with the station Haven-1 for a maximum duration of 30 days. If the mission is successful, the startup will organize a mission Vast-2 and 2026which will be able to participate not only professional astronauts, but also, for a fee, ordinary people “engaged in science and philanthropy”.
Initially, Haven-1 will operate as an independent station. But then it will become a module of a larger structure – it is in the design stage. This means that in the future, the Vast startup’s commercial space station will be able to accommodate even more people. Most likely, even following several years, the startup will cooperate with SpaceX. The business ofElon Musk plans not only toensure the dispatch of people to the stationbut also of provide instruction on the operating principles of the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon spaceship. SpaceX specialists will also simulate the docking and undocking of the station’s spacecraft, as well as its return to Earth.
Commercial space stations will become the norm by 2030
As shown above, the launch of the space station Haven-1 will not take place until August 2025. However, the Washington Post authors do not rule out the launch being postponed. In this case, the startup Vast will not be the first to create the world’s first commercial space station. And this, because it already has at least two competitors.
Representatives of the startup Vast inside the SpaceX training module
For example, Axiom to the intention of develop and launch its station in space at the end of 2025. According to the official Axiom Space website, the first parts of the future station are already being assembled. The final stages of the design will be carried out at Houstonhome to one of the largest space centers in the United States.
The second competitor of the startup Vast is a alliance in between Nanoracks, Voyager Space et Lockheed Martin. They are developing the space station Starlabwhich consists of a grand module d’habitationof a dockof a robotic arm and a large number of equipment for scientific experiments. Up to four people will be able to live inside the station – not only professionals, but also space tourists. According to Interfax, the launch of the commercial station is scheduled for 2027.
With the advent of commercial stations, the space tourism might become more interesting – people will be able to live in the resort for a month. But for now, all tourism comes down to spacewalks and returns a few minutes later.
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