The Future of Space Stations: Beyond the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is set to de-orbit and burn in the atmosphere in a few years, marking the end of an era in space exploration. NASA will no longer be involved, and it is possible that some private companies will step in to fill the void. This article explores how private entities are planning to replace the ISS and the various strategies and technologies they are employing.
Private Companies and Modular Space Stations
One company taking on this challenge is Axiom Space. By 2026, Axiom plans to begin attaching new modules to the ISS. By 2030, their complex will be sufficiently expanded to detach and become its own independent space station. Following Axiom, several other companies are also working on their own private space stations, which are expected to be launched between the mid-2020s and 2030s. In about ten to twelve years, there might be three to four privately owned space stations in orbit. Their combined capacities will exceed those of the ISS.
Health Concerns and Adaptations
The ISS has no future as its relevance has been questioned. The negative health effects of long-term zero gravity living have been well-documented. However, these issues are being addressed to create more comfortable and sustainable living conditions.
Future Plans and Transferring Stations
The current plans involve transferring the station to a lunar orbit. While it is projected that funds will be limited, enabling both a low-Earth orbit and a lunar orbit station, private companies may still opt to build one in low-Earth orbit. Plans for upgrading the ISS include three main approaches: 1) a brand new facility using a LaGrange point between Earth and the Moon called Gateway; 2) using SpaceX’s Starship and existing ISS components to create a new, more habitable structure; 3) combining both approaches to maximize cost-effectiveness.
Other Space Station Projects
Several other projects are also being considered as successors to the ISS. For example, Axiom Space is working on the Axiom Station, a modular concept that will gradually expand from a single module to a complete space station. Another project is the Commercial Space Station from Northrop Grumman, a more conventional design that is expected to be much smaller than the ISS. Blue Origin and Sierra Nevada are proposing the Orbital Reef, which is significantly larger and more capable than the Northrop Grumman design. Additionally, a consortium of Nanoracks, Voyager Space, and Lockheed Martin is developing the Starlab project, a modest single-launch design.
A new player in the field is Vast, who, in partnership with SpaceX, proposes the Haven-1, a small single-launch station designed to be launched by the Falcon-9. However, Vast has ambitious plans to use SpaceX’s Starship to build something more substantial. Haven-1 is designed to provide artificial gravity by spinning around its central axis, offering an innovative solution to the health effects of zero gravity. At 100 meters in length, it is one of the most ambitious structures proposed so far, with internal modules fitting within the Starship's 9-meter fairing, providing a significant internal volume.
While these examples represent the most advanced and progressed plans, there are undoubtedly many other projects in the pipeline. These efforts aim to ensure that there will be no shortage of space stations to succeed the ISS when its time comes.
Will there be a replacement for the International Space Station? The answer is yes, with numerous private companies working tirelessly to create the next generation of space stations. As technology and funding continue to evolve, the future of space exploration looks bright and promising.