While NASA plans to retire the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of this decade, the next generation of orbital ventures is preparing for launch. Rocket builder Blue Origin aims to have the first commercial space station – a solar-powered 'mixed business park' called Orbital Reef – operational by 2030.
The 29,000 cubic meter installation floats 500 kilometers above Earth and will be self-sufficient and have sleeping quarters, social areas and research facilities. The central core structure, with a volume of 8,228 cubic feet, is connected to an inflatable Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat from Sierra Space, a Colorado-based aerospace technology company.
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The first version can accommodate a total of ten scientists, international astronauts and tourists, who will be transported back and forth via multiple vessels. As for the modular Tinkertoy design, it allows Orbital Reef to expand into a much larger base camp over time. Here's the vision of what life in low Earth orbit will be like.
A walk in the dark
One of the most exciting options available to astrotourists will be a spacewalk. Although the capsule they will nest in resembles the robot from Lost in Space, its life support systems and relatively spacious interior make it much more comfortable than a conventional space suit, while still providing an exceptional view of Earth.
Growing species
One of the LIFE habitats will feature a hydroponic Astro Garden to provide crew members with fresh produce when they need a break from freeze-dried meals. Sierra Space tested a self-contained “plant cushion” – a Teflon-coated bag made of Nomex and Kevlar – that contains water, fertilizer and other growing agents to facilitate harvesting vegetables. “A lot of work goes into getting fresh food to space,” said Angie Wise, Sierra Space's Chief Safety Officer. “If we eventually go to Mars, we have to learn how to grow our own.”
The ultimate zoom background
This 10,594 cubic meter LIFE habitat will be where all social interaction will take place, with its galley and dining area, sleeping accommodations and fitness facilities. The plans show café-style tables, with fresh vegetables lining the walls, and the possibility of projected video calls with Earth (among the many technical developments, the space station will also have Wi-Fi). Granted, in the original Orbital Reef, bunk beds will be a basic necessity: a prototype setup at Sierra Space headquarters hints at a hammock strapped to the ceiling, requiring you to strap in for some weightless z's.
Rooms with a view
Orbital Reef's initial layout includes individual sleeping areas, but the long-term plan is for hotel accommodations. Tourists looking to pass the time productively may choose to participate in ongoing research projects or perhaps undergo training, as exercise deters the kind of bone density loss that often occurs with prolonged periods of weightlessness. Others may be content to admire the ever-changing view as the space station completes 16 orbits per day.
Higher education
As a destination for scientists to research microgravity, Orbital Reef will feature two-level laboratories – totaling 8,200 cubic meters – to host hundreds of experiments that could range from 3D printing human organs to developing batteries that extend the range of current electric vehicles tenfold. The scientific equipment available includes incubators, freezers, biofabrication benches and centrifuges.
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