Space Platforms: Web Articles
Next100 - A Dialogue on the Next Century of Energy
"When President Obama visits India in a couple of weeks to help cement the two countries’ strategic and economic relationship, he should make room on the agenda for a visionary plan to create a joint space-based solar energy program. That’s the provocative recommendation of a recent report drafted by a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and published by the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, a think tank based in New Delhi and funded by India’s defense ministry." There is also significant NASA-related interest in this topic as seen by the agenda (Session #6) for the October 29-31, 2010 Space Studies Institute conference at NASA Ames Research Center. International interest in the space community is growing and discussions that may lead to effective collaborations are already underway.
Orbital Technologies and RSC Energia to Launch World's First Commercial Space Station - Orbital Technologies
"Private Russian company and lead contractor for the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation collaborate to commercialize space." This facility appears to be on a path to compete with the Bigelow Space Station concept, but apparently on a smaller scale. The competition heats up.
Public Offerings for Space Travel | R&D Mag
Space tourism has already enjoyed a nearly 10-year run with steady business (only seven customers, but at $20-35 million apiece). Most of us will never get the opportunity, but we might be able to soon own a piece of the action if space entrepreneur Elon Musk is ready for shareholder meetings. Camille Ricketts of the blog Green Beat thinks it’s one way for the entrepreneur to keep the wheels turning and the rockets burning on his high-flying SpaceX and Tesla ventures.
Entrepreneurs Enter the Commercial Space Race | NYTimes.com
At the Bigelow Aerospace factory here, the full-size space station mockups sitting on the warehouse floor look somewhat like puffy white watermelons. The interiors offer a hint of what spacious living in space might look like.
“Every astronaut we have come in here just says, ‘Wow,’ ” said Robert T. Bigelow, the company founder. “They can’t believe the size of this thing.” Four years from now, the company plans for real modules to be launched and assembled into the solar system’s first private space station. Paying customers — primarily nations that do not have the money or expertise to build a space program from scratch — would arrive a year later.
An Inflatable Space Station
Private space stations edge closer to reality - Space.com/msnbc.com
"With two prototype modules for a commercial space station already circling the Earth, Bigelow Aerospace is gearing up for a full-scale assault on space.
For the upstart firm, it's about volume — and not entirely in the sense of quantity or number of items sold. The company's expandable module designs are designed to offer low-cost commercial volume in space — for rent or lease — not only to private-sector interests, but also to national space agencies."
This is a recent update on Robert Bigelow's strategy for commercial space habitat applications. It confirms earlier speculations about his development of human life support systems and living accommodations. Jobs for a couple of ex-astronauts are open.
Space hotel competes with Bigelow in 2012? | Yahoo! News
"A company that plans to open the first hotel in space says it is on target to accept its first paying guests in 2012 despite critics questioning the investment and time frame for the multi-billion dollar project.
The Barcelona-based architects of The Galactic Suite Space Resort say it will cost 3 million euro ($4.4 million) for a three-night stay at the hotel, with this price including an eight-week training course on a tropical island."
Open Letter to NÅSA Administrator From Bigelow Aerospace | SpaceNews.com
"We appreciated the fact that you and Deputy Administrator Lori Garver took the time to meet with commercial space executives and, as we expressed during that meeting, Bigelow Aerospace remains a strong supporter of commercial crew transportation. However, in that discussion last month, and in subsequent public appearances, you have consistently voiced a concern and a question. Specifically, you have often commented on the importance of commercial space transportation providers proving themselves via cargo delivery, and have asked the question what is the definition of “commercial space.” I hope we can help you to address both of these issues (in this letter)..."
Bigelow Pitches Orion-like Concept to Blue-Ribbon Panel | SpaceNews.com
Seizing the opportunity to promote the private sector’s role in NASA’s post-space shuttle future, an official from Bigelow Aerospace privately briefed a White House-charted panel in July on a stripped down version of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle ("Orion Lite") that could be ready as soon as 2013 to start carrying passengers to and from low Earth orbit (LEO). Bigelow has been quietly working with Lockheed Martin, one of the two partners in the United Launch Alliance that is building the Orion CEV on contract for NASA, The ULA also has been studying the ability to mate the Orion Lite with their Atlas 5 launcher. Bigelow hopes that the Orion Lite capsule would also be compatible with the SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher since his Sundancer expandable habitat system will require regular transport of crew and cargo to and from its location in LEO. To manage risks, Bigelow want to ensure that there is more than one option to do that on a regular (30 day?) schedule.
Startup Signs NASA Agreement to Fly Mini Labs on Station | SpaceNews.com
Under a newly concluded agreement with NASA, the entrepreneurial space company NanoRacks, managed by Jeffrey Manber, is soliciting small university experiments and commercial research projects to fly aboard the international space station starting in mid-2010. NanoRacks, announced plans Sept. 21 to send experiments to the international space station for installation in a platform the company calls a CubeLab, which houses as many as 16 experiments in standard CubeSats, the miniature satellites and research boxes popular with university research teams.
China Shows U.S. Delegation Next Spacecraft | AVIATION WEEK
"The U.S. and China are beginning to open lines of communications that could lead to greater cooperation in human spaceflight. This significant move comes as the Obama administration ponders a way forward in space that may include more willingness to work with China in areas that previously were off limits."