Axiom Space Wins NASA Approval for Construction of Commercial Space Station on ISS
HOUSTON, Jan. 27, 2020 (Axiom Space PR) — The human dream of universal access to living and working in space has drawn one step closer.
On Monday the National Aeronautics and Space Administration selected Axiom Space as the winner of the NextSTEP-2 Appendix I solicitation, which sought to grant access to the International Space Station’s Node 2 Forward port for a commercial space station that could ultimately serve as ISS’ replacement.
Co-founded by stalwart space entrepreneur Dr. Kam Ghaffarian and former NASA ISS Program Manager Michael Suffredini, both of whom have in excess of 35 years of human spaceflight experience, Axiom plans to launch a node module, research & manufacturing facility, crew habitat, and large-windowed Earth observatory to form the “Axiom Segment” of the ISS.
This new commercial platform will significantly increase the usable and habitable volume of the ISS, provide for novel avenues of research in areas such as isolation studies and Earth observation, and allow a gradual transfer of the innovative work being done on-station to prevent interruptions when the ISS is ultimately retired.
The company targets launch of the first module in the latter half of 2024.
“We appreciate the bold decision on the part of NASA to open up a commercial future in Low Earth Orbit,” Suffredini said. “This selection is a recognition of the uniquely qualified nature of the Axiom team and our commercial plan to create and support a thriving, sustainable, and American-led LEO ecosystem.
“Axiom exists to provide the infrastructure in space for a variety of users to conduct research, discover new technologies, test systems for exploration of the Moon and Mars, manufacture superior products for use in orbit and on the ground, and ultimately improve life back on Earth. As we build on the legacy and foundation established by the ISS Program, we look forward to working with NASA and the ecosystem of current and future international partners on this seminal effort.”
Central to the selection was the Axiom leadership team’s extensive high-level expertise in human spaceflight management, space systems engineering and operations, utilization of microgravity, space finance, marketing, and law.
Ghaffarian founded Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, which rose to become NASA’s second-largest engineering services provider, training NASA’s astronauts and operating the ISS. These functions are now carried on by KBR, which bought SGT in 2018 and joined the Axiom team as a subcontractor on the winning proposal.
“A commercial platform in Earth orbit is an opportunity to mark a shift in our society similar to that which astronauts undergo when they see the planet from above,” Ghaffarian, Axiom’s executive chairman, said. “Our goal is to advance the state of humanity and human knowledge. I am glad to see the Axiom team, with its advanced human spaceflight, engineering, and operations expertise, recognized for its potential to do just that and build off of ISS.”
Team Axiom also includes Boeing, Thales Alenia Space Italy, Intuitive Machines, and Maxar Technologies.
Axiom was founded in 2016 with the purpose of expanding human civilization into Earth orbit. In addition to building and launching the Axiom Segment, the company will launch crewed flights to the ISS and later the ISS/Axiom complex at a rate of about two to three flights per year. Shortly before ISS is retired, Axiom will launch its large power platform to provide the Axiom Segment power and cooling that ISS previously provided.
When the ISS reaches its decommissioning date, the Axiom Segment will detach and continue as a free-flying, internationally available commercial space station. This station will have been built at a fraction of the cost of ISS, the elimination of whose operating costs will enable NASA to dive headlong into a new era of exploration.
“There is a fantastically steep learning curve to human spaceflight,” Suffredini said. “The collective experience at Axiom is quite far along it. Because we know firsthand what works and what doesn’t in LEO, we are innovating in terms of design, engineering, and process while maintaining safety and dramatically lowering costs.”
About Axiom Space
Axiom Space was founded in 2016 to make life and work in orbit a reality as a means to sustained deep space exploration and improving life on Earth. While building and launching the Axiom Segment to one day form the world’s first commercial space station, Axiom will provide access to the ISS today by launching crewed flights at a rate of about two to three flights per year. More information about Axiom can be found at www.axiomspace.com.
21 responses to “Axiom Space Wins NASA Approval for Construction of Commercial Space Station on ISS”
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Very cool. And…it doesn’t hurt to have friends in high places.
https://www.nasa.gov/press-…
The press release implies Axiom will be buying its own crew launches to keep this private ISS expansion staffed. I wonder which provider is in line to do these missions?
Says above that Boeing is part of their team, so they would seem to have the inside track
it is the same group that built the space station period all but the international parts of it
Sure. But for that, NASA was in charge and wanted multiple providers. With a group with Boeing on board (and no other launch or crewed capsule) provider, they may well decide to exclusively use their own services. Could make a lot of sense.
On the other hand, I could see them giving a minority of the flights to SpaceX, especially later on as Axiom’s modules approach independent post-ISS operations, for dissimilar redundancy and perhaps lower operating costs
a few points
first Axiom probably got the “deal” because of 1) they are full of talent who has done this before 2) they have what looks like a soup to nuts supply chain…ie the primary station building module folks, a launch provider with probably two ways to oribt (Vulcan and Blue) and they could probably go to OSC for the delivery vehicle.
3) they are all part of the gang, ie they have all worked together before and 4) they might have the horsepower to raise the money.
but in the end none of this will happen without federal dollars in some form…and really the goal here is not so much to replace ISS but to figure out away to upgrade it cheaper then how it was built…
cut off the federal dollars at least for thenext 10 to 15 years and this thing dies quickly
Re:”…and they could probably go to OSC for the delivery vehicle”
Or Sierra Nevada
Weird. I heard this same argument about Boeing vs SpaceX.
space X capsule is quite dangerous
In what way?
Shows up the Boeing offering.
I wish them luck. The only bit that seems nebulous is who are the customers?
Considering former ISS program manger Micheal Suffredini and former NASA administrator Charles Bolden are on board, not to mention Boeing, and with the company’s base being in Houston (whose Representatives and Senators will be on the relevant congressional committees), my guess is you (i.e., the US taxpayer) 😉
Add in some tourists, some research, a few marketing opportunities, etc. to keep the lights on until the ISS is splashed at the end of the decade, and they’ll make it until NA$A really needs them. Who knows though, maybe Axiom will hit on a lucrative market or two – I hope they do
at the start the US government. this is a good thing…a sign of hope actually
I agree – sounds like it could be an independent US-based station in and of itself, without costing the US $110,000,000,000 to build like the ISS did (iirc), plus with lower operating costs and an openness hopefully baked in to finding commercial opportunities
That would inspire more confidence in me if the CASIS organization wasn’t a continuous raging dumpster fire.
yes
Actually, there are loads of possible customers for space training.
If NASA was smart, they would get both Axiom and Bigelow up there ASAP.
My memory is that this initiative began with the success of BEAM, and the expectation was that Bigelow would be putting a large hab up. So now Bigelow’s out, and Axiom’s in. How’d that happen?
Politics.
NASA would be smart to add 2 companies (axiom and Bigelow) on this and then expect BOTH to split off with their own private space stations.