While the dismantling of the international space station could begin as early as 2025, NASA has selected three projects to succeed the ISS. Private partnerships that allow Americans to maintain their presence in space.
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[EN VIDÉO] ISS: visit the astonishing International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) has been in orbit since 1998. Although it has circled our planet more than 100,000 times, only 230 people have been able to board it. For those who stayed on Earth, the European Space Agency (Esa) has prepared, in video, a short guided tour of the Station, which we invite you to discover here.
While the International Space Station is probably living its last years, the US Space Agency announces that it has selected three projects for new stations to continue to have an American presence in low orbit. NASA’s goal here is to encourage initiatives combining both scientific research and space tourism.
For commercial activities
The first project is signed by Blue Origin, the company of Jeff Bezos which can already be proud of having carried out the first manned flights for “space tourists” via his New Shepard launcher. Blue Origin, associated with Sierra Space, presents Orbital Reef, a space station intended for commercial exploitation from the second half of this decade.
Among the partners of this very ambitious project is Boeing in particular. The project was designed to provide all the infrastructure necessary for all types of human space flight activities, American or international, in low orbit. It thus provides for various accommodation and vehicle mooring ports.
For research activities
Another project is the work of Nanoracks, in association with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin. It is called Starlab and its launch is scheduled for 2027, in a single flight. This is a commercial space station project with a permanent crew, responsible in particular for carrying out advanced research in matter of biology and physical science. This relatively compact station is designed to accommodate four astronauts. These research activities will not prevent the development of parallel commercial activities there, knowing that the station may very well expand with time and demands.
A future modular and expandable station
Finally, the third project retained by NASA is that of Northrop Grumman, in the form of a modular station for commercial use. Its design is based on elements proven in flight, such as its spaceship Cygnus which delivers cargo to the International Space Station. The capacities of this future station promise to be varied, whether in science, industrial experimentation and tourism. Its multiple mooring ports will allow future expansion of the station, again depending on demand.
Through all these projects supported as of today, NASA’s objective is to maintain an American presence in space after the end of the adventure of the International Space Station, the dismantling of which could begin as early as 2025. And this is just one of the many programs coming from NASA, which must also return Men on the Moon as part of its Artemis mission before considering doing the same, later, around Mars.
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