NextSTEP Phase II - full scale prototype of deep space habitat for cislunar station
NASA awarded Lockheed Martin (LM) a Phase II contract for the deep space habitat study. Under this contract LM is developing a full scale prototype as part of the space agency’s plans to build a crew tended spaceport in lunar orbit within the first few SLS/Orion missions known as the “Deep Space Gateway”.
Image: Lockheed Martin
A full-scale prototype of the deep space habitat will be built by refurbishing the Donatello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). Donatello was one of three large modules, flown in the space shuttle payload bay, that were used to transfer cargo to the International Space Station. Working prototype will be completed in the next 18 months.
Image: NASA
To build cislunar station, new approaches, different from those used in building ISS are needed. Deep space habitat has to be more autonomous, in fact it is closer to Mars transport vehicle than to ISS.
Lockheed says:
Because the Deep Space Gateway would be uninhabited for several months at a time, it has to be rugged, reliable and have the robotic capabilities to operate autonomously. Essentially it is a robotic spacecraft that is well-suited for humans when Orion is present
Image: Lockheed Martin
The other 5 companies selected for prototypes are:
- Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas, Nevada
- Boeing of Pasadena, Texas
- Orbital ATK of Dulles, Virginia
- Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems of Louisville, Colorado
- NanoRacks of Webster, Texas
And lets go to Mars. And make a crypto the only currency available there.;)
confirmation times with crypto will be too long. Will need something like IOTA's Tangle (to confirm isolate branches)
Very interesting, having watched the Apollo missions, seen the first space shuttle go into orbit and Elon Musk's SpaceX do incredible things. I am as you can guess close to 70 but the thrill of waiting for the launch of the James Webb and not to forget Hubble. I would love to see a space habitat in lunar orbit and maybe if I am very lucky to man take a step on Mars. I think it is imperative that we gain a foothold somewhere else. Upvoted and followed.
Thank for the reading! Currently we have Earth's geostationary orbit tightly populated with satellites and it is very important part of the economy. Time for the next step
Mind boggling how much money is tied up in aerospace! I applaud people who work in the field. For myself, I get nauseous just thinking about sitting in that little can shooting around the solar system LOL. It's the new frontier!!
Try zero-g and you'll love these little cans
That looks like suchfun! I always did say I'd try anything once LOL. Paintball looks awesome :D Thanks for showing that clip!!