Thales Alenia Space to Provide 2 Key Pressurized Elements for Axiom Commercial Space Station
TURIN, June 24, 2020 (Thales Alenia Space PR) – Thales Alenia Space, Joint Venture between Thales (67 %) and Leonardo (33 %) announced the signature of an ATP (Authorization To Proceed) with Axiom Space of Houston, Texas to initiate the development of two key pressurized elements dedicated to the world’s first commercial space station.
In January, NASA selected Axiom’s proposal to attach its space station modules to the International Space Station (ISS) starting from the second half of 2024, ultimately creating a new ‘Axiom Segment’ which will expand the usable and habitable volume of the ISS. When the ISS reaches its retirement date, the Axiom complex will detach and operate as a free-flying commercial space station. The Axiom Segment will be attached to the ISS Node 2 built by Thales Alenia Space.
Axiom is offering professional and private astronaut flights to the ISS at a rate of up to two per year, with the first set to launch in October 2021, while it develops the new station elements.
Based on its past successful experience building modules for the International Space Station, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the design, development, assembly and test of the primary structure and the Micrometeoroid & Debris Protection System for the Axiom Node One (AxN1) and Habitation Module (AxH), the first two Axiom station elements to fly. Axiom will receive these elements at their facility in Houston for integration and outfitting of core systems and certification of flight prior to shipping to the launch facility.
Walter Cugno, Thales Alenia Space Vice President, Science and Exploration commented: “With its unrivaled expertise for pressurized modules, Thales Alenia Space is an essential partner for all human and deep space exploration missions. I am confident this partnership with Axiom will open new horizons by revolutionizing the human presence in low-Earth orbit.”
Massimo Comparini, Thales Alenia Space Senior Executive Vice President Observation Exploration & Navigation business line stated: ”This mission is an important step toward enabling the development of independent commercial destinations, and fostering the growth of a strong and competitive low-Earth orbit economy. The synergy with the entire space ecosystem, from Governmental institutions and international Agencies, to private companies, positions Thales Alenia Space at the very core of the industry, and together with our partner Axiom we are happy to partake in this new enterprise of building the new sustainable low-Earth Orbit market based on commercial space destinations.”
“The legacy of the International Space Station structure is one of safety and reliability despite huge technical complexity,” said Axiom Space CEO Michael Suffredini, formerly NASA’s ISS Program Manager from 2005 to 2015. “We are thrilled to combine Axiom’s human spaceflight expertise with Thales Alenia Space’s experience to build the next stage of human settlement in Low Earth Orbit from a foundation that is tried and tested. The first two modules of the Axiom Commercial Space Station will serve as the wellspring of a thriving commercial future in space.”
Thales Alenia Space has supplied a significant part of the pressurized elements of the International Space Station, including state-of-the-art components such as Node 2, Node 3, Columbus (pressurized part) – European Laboratory, Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), the Permanent Logistic Module (PPM) and Cupola, as well as the ATV and Cygnus cargo modules.
ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE
Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.15 billion euros in 2019 and has around 7,700 employees in nine countries. www.thalesaleniaspace.com
6 responses to “Thales Alenia Space to Provide 2 Key Pressurized Elements for Axiom Commercial Space Station”
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Dang, Thales’ got their fingerprints all over the ISS now. Hard to argue with their experience and success though (Thales’ new module for Axiom will dock to Thales’ Node 2 built for NASA, etc.).
Not exactly “NewSpace” though – would have thought someone else could have been cheaper and more innnovative, perhaps even disruptive. Of course, that someone else probably shouldn’t have spent so much time chasing around UFOs, lol 😀
Ouch! That hurt.
and that is the problem. We have more of the same, when in reality, we NEED 2 very different redundant habitats/etc.
NASA is making the same GD mistakes that they always make. They are falling into bed with their best buddies as opposed to expanding .
Right now, Thales is the equivalent of Boeing. Worse yet, they are working with China at the same time.
This is a HORRIBLE mistake.
NASA did not award the contract, Axiom did. Your beef is with Mike Suffredini, not NASA.
For what it’s worth, Thales Alenia Space seems a lot better at delivering on time than Boeing is. Their stuff is a bit pricey, but in this case it isn’t Joe Taxpayer getting stuck with the bill.
No, my beef is with NASA (edit – NATO). We NEED multiple different systems for redundancy.
That is why CONgress, DoD and NASA need to get Bigelow up there (and if not Bigelow than SNC with Playtex group).
go go go