Axiom Station is a planned modular space station designed by Houston, Texas-based Axiom Space for commercial space activities. Axiom Space gained initial NASA approval for the venture in January 2020. Axiom Space was later awarded the contract by NASA on February 28, 2020.[2] Axiom Station is one of multiple Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) projects supported by NASA to build a successor to the International Space Station (ISS) before its decommissioning in 2030.
 Artist's rendering of an early concept design for Axiom Station berthed at the forward port of Harmony | |
| Station statistics | |
|---|---|
| Launch | 2027 (planned) |
| Carrier rocket | Undecided |
| Launch pad | Undecided |
| Mission status | Under construction[1] |
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Axiom Station modules infographic |
Axiom Segment
editBetween 2020 and 2024, Axiom Space intended to assemble four modules in a dedicated segment docked to the ISS before detaching them to form the free-flying Axiom Station.[3]
Axiom renderings illustrate how the four modules might attach to the ISS as they are berthed and relocated by the Mobile Servicing System using the robotic arm Canadarm2.[4][5]
The company released preliminary plans in February 2020 for how the Axiom Orbital Segment could form the basis for the Axiom Station, constructed out of the Axiom Segment and additional elements upon ISS retirement and separation, including a power and thermal module with an airlock.[6][non-primary source needed] The company planned to launch its first four modules in consecutive years starting from the mid-2020s.[7][8][9]
The interior concept of the crew quarters of Axiom Orbital Segment was conceived in 2018 by French architect and designer Philippe Starck. Renderings of the habitat show a chamber with walls that are covered with tufted padding and studded with hundreds of color-changing LEDs.[10] The Axiom Orbital Segment is intended to have amenities including high-speed Wi-Fi, video screens, picture windows and a glass-walled cupola – which Axiom calls "the largest window observatory ever constructed for the space environment".[11]
In December 2024, Axiom Space announced a change in their station assembly plans. Instead of assembling the Axiom Orbital Segment at the ISS, the station was now planned to fly independently after the launch of the Habitat One (Hab-1) module. The Payload Power Thermal Module would be launched first and dock with the ISS while awaiting the launch of Hab-1, after which it would detach from the ISS and form the Axiom Station upon connecting with Hab-1.[3]
Planned modules
editEach Axiom Station module is an independent spacecraft equipped with all the systems needed to maneuver in orbit – including propulsion.[12]
PPTM
editAxiom's first module, the Payload Power Thermal Module (PPTM), is scheduled to be launched to the ISS no earlier than 2027.[3] PPTM is expected to provide power and thermal capacity equivalent to that of the ISS via solar array.[13][14] The module will initially be attached to one of two ports currently used by cargo spacecraft before detaching from the ISS to dock with Hab-1 in 2028.[3]
Hab-1
editAxiom's second module, Habitat One (Hab-1), is expected to be launched no earlier than 2028.[3] It will provide quarters for four crew members and volume to accommodate research and manufacturing applications. Each personal crew quarter is equipped with a large Earth-viewing window and touch-screen communications panel. A docking adapter allows visiting vehicles to dock to the Axiom Station; four radial ports on Hab-1 provide for the addition of future modules and increase the station's docking capability.[14][13] It will have propulsion, guidance, navigation and station control systems. The first windowed pressurized module is approximately 11 meters long and 4.2 meters in diameter at the widest part.[9] Thales Alenia Space reported significant progress on the fabrication of the module in early 2024.[15]
When Hab-1 is launched into orbit, PPTM will undock from the ISS and dock with Hab-1, forming the initial two-module free-flying Axiom Station.[3]
AL
editAxiom's third module, the Airlock Module (AL), is expected to be launched in the late 2020s.[3] The addition of an airlock module will enable extravehicular activities, making Axiom Station a fully capable space station.[3]
Hab-2
editAxiom's fourth module, Habitat Two (Hab-2), is expected to be launched after the Airlock Module.[3] It will provide quarters for an additional four crew members allowing the station to support up to eight crew.[14][13] It provides complete ECLSS support, commercial high data satellite communications and a Canadarm 3 styled Remote manipulator system for the Axiom Station.[16]
RMF
edit
Axiom's fifth module, the Research and Manufacturing Facility Module with Earth Observatory (RMF), is expected to be launched in the early 2030s.[14][13] It will provide access to the unique microgravity environment as a platform to enable research, product development, process improvement, and space manufacturing.[17] The Earth Observatory is a glass-walled cupola attached to the RMF.[3]
SEE-1
edit| External image | |
|---|---|
| Animation of docked and inflated AxSEE-1. |
Axiom Space plans to manufacture the SEE-1 module for the British company Space Entertainment Enterprise (or S.E.E.).[18][19] It is planned to be a six meter spherical inflatable module[20] and to fulfill the purpose of a first entertainment studio in space. SEE-1 is expected to launch sometime after Hab-1.[21]
The directors of SEE, Dmitry Lesnevsky and Elena Lesnevsky, have additionally been pursuing film shootings for a future movie with Tom Cruise at the station.[20]
MPLM
editThe Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLM) is planned to be modified and installed on Axiom Station after the ISS is decommissioned.[22]
Construction
editManufacturing
editAxiom Space signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space for Thales Alenia to manufacture and test the primary structure and the Micrometeoroid & Debris Protection System (or MDPS) for both Hab-1 and Hab-2.[23] Thales Alenia Space is in the process of machining the primary structure of Hab-1. With the completion of the Manufacturing Readiness Review on September 21, 2021, Thales Alenia began welding the cone panels of Hab-1. The primary structure for Hab-1 is expected to be delivered from Italy to Houston, Texas in early 2023 where Axiom Space will complete assembly and integration of all systems before launch.[9]
Assembly
editThere have been no announcements as to which rocket will carry the Axiom Station modules into Low Earth orbit. The first module, PPTM, is planned to attach to one of two ISS ports currently used by cargo spacecraft. PPTM will separate from the ISS and berth to Hab-1 once that module is launched. The Airlock Module, Hab-2 and RMF will then follow in that order.[3] As Axiom Station is a modular space station, the modules may be moved to different ports as needed.
Axiom is, under agreements between the US and India, looking into diversifying its launch providers and possibly using Indian or European launch systems.[24]
Purpose
editScientific research
editAxiom Station is planned to have a lab module, RMF, to provide opportunities for Low Earth orbit research and manufacturing.
Commercial station
editAxiom Station is also planned to have space for general commercial use, such as the SEE-1 entertainment module.
See also
edit- Axiom Mission 1 – precursor private crew mission
- Axiom Mission 2
- Axiom Mission 3
- Aurora Space Station – Design concept for a commercial space station
- BA 2100 – Space habitat conceptualized by Bigelow Aerospace
- B330 – Space habitat designed by Bigelow Aerospace
- Bigelow Expandable Activity Module – Experimental inflatable module – Installed on ISS
- Japanese Space Station Module (Mitsui)
- List of commercial space stations
- Orbital Reef – Proposed low Earth orbit space station
- Space tourism
- Starlab Space Station – Planned LEO station designed by Nanoracks
References
edit- ^ "A step closer to the Axiom Commercial Space Station". Thales Group. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Northon, Karen (27 January 2020). "NASA Selects First Commercial Destination Module for Space Station". NASA. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Foust, Jeff (18 December 2024). "Axiom Space revises space station assembly plans". SpaceNews. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Assembly Sequence: Watch the Axiom Segment of the ISS constructed module-by-module". Axiom Space. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "A Private Space Station Might Be Born From the ISS". seeker.com. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Axiom Commercial Space Station". Axiom Space. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (14 October 2022). "Commercial space station developers seek clarity on regulations". SpaceNews. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ Corbett, Tobias (28 January 2020). "NASA selects Axiom Space to build commercial space station segment". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "A step closer to the Axiom Commercial Space Station". Thales Group. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "French designer creates womblike habitat for space tourists". NBC News. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ Corbett, Tobias (27 January 2020). "NASA selects Axiom Space to build commercial space station segment". NASASpaceFlight.com.
- ^ @Axiom_Space (31 August 2021). "Each Axiom Station module is an independent spacecraft equipped with all the systems needed to maneuver in orbit – propulsion among them. Progress on the thrusters, developed in-house, continues apace with this test unit undergoing new and progressively longer hotfire cycles" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d "News & Media". Axiom Space. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Axiom Commercial Space Station". Axiom Space. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "The welding of the forward cone to the cylinder bulkhead marks a significant evolution of the primary structure of Ax- H1".
- ^ Boucher, Marc (4 May 2022). "Canadarm3 technology to be included on Axiom commercial space station". SpaceQ. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "Axiom Space Builds World's First Commercial Space Station". Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Press – Space Entertainment Enterprise". www.seespacearena.com. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "SEE - Space Entertainment Enterprise". www.seespacearena.com. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Bigelow Aerospace transfers BEAM space station module to NASA". SpaceNews. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "RELEASE – Axiom selected to build inflatable microgravity media venue". Axiom Space. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Leinfelder, Andrea (27 April 2023). "NASA's Super Guppy delivers space shuttle module for reuse on Axiom Space's commercial station". Houston Chronicle. Houston, Texas. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Thales Alenia Space to provide the first two pressurized modules for Axiom Space Station". Thales Group. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Kuthunur, Sharmila (8 November 2024). "Axiom Space looks to India and Europe for rockets to help build its private space station". Space.com. Retrieved 9 November 2024.