Russian companies plan to construct commercial space station
Will there soon be another human in low , or is this a redundant pipe dream? Two Russian-based companies hope to build the first-ever commercial station, named, fittingly, Commercial Space Station (CSS). Orbital Technologies and Rocket and Space Energia (RSC Energria) said in a press release that they will work together to build, launch, and operate the station, which they foresee as will being utilized by private citizens, professional crews as well as corporate researchers interested in conducting scientific programs.
鈥淚 am pleased to announce our intention to provide the global marketplace a commercially available orbital outpost,鈥� said the CEO of Orbital Technologies, Sergey Kostenko. 鈥淥nce launched and operational, the CSS will provide a unique destination for commercial, state and private exploration missions. The CSS will be a addition to the global base of orbital assets. We look forward to working with corporate entities, state governments and private individuals from around the world.鈥�
The two companies provided no schedule for launches of the modules, or information about their or resources, except to advertise they are looking for partnerships.
A US-based company, , has also been planning to construct a commercial space station using expandable habitats. They launched prototypes in 2006 and 2007, and in 2011 plan to launch a larger 180,572 square ft. module, which they tout as 鈥渇ully operational.鈥�
鈥淲hat competition do we see on the horizon?鈥� said Robert Bigelow, founder and president on the Bigelow website. 鈥淣obody.鈥�
This Russian space station, if it actually goes forward, would change that.
Reportedly, the CSS will be able to house up to seven people with 鈥渕odules and technologies of the highest quality and will be used in the construction of the station,鈥� to 鈥渓ead the private sector in the commercializing human spaceflight platforms in low .鈥�
The CSS will be serviced by the Russian Soyuz and Progress , as well other transportation systems available from other countries, enabled by a 鈥渦nified docking system that will allow any commercial crew and cargo capability developed in the Unites States, Europe and China.
Having second space station in orbit will allow the crew of the to leave the 鈥渋f a required maintenance procedure or a real emergency were to occur, without the return of the ISS crew to Earth,鈥� said Alexey Krasnov, Head of Manned Spaceflight Department, Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation, allowing the ISS crew to have a safe haven in the event of an emergency.
But the main goal of the CSS is to be a hub for commercial activity, scientific research and development in . Orbital Technologies said they already have several customers under contract from different segments of industry and the scientific community, representing such areas as medical research and protein crystallization, materials processing, and the geographic imaging and remote sensing industry.
鈥淲e also have proposals for the implementation of media projects,鈥� said Kostenko. 鈥淎nd, of course, some parties are interested in short duration stays on the station for enjoyment.鈥�
And for the future, the developers see the CSS as a 鈥渢rue gateway to the rest of the system,鈥� said Kostenko. 鈥淎 short stop-over at our station will be the perfect beginning of a manned circumlunar flight. manned exploration missions planned in the next decade are also welcome to use the CSS as a waypoint and a supply station.鈥�
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