Low Cost to Orbit
Coinciding with this week’s potential launch of SpaceX’s Starship, there have been several announcements from companies at the space symposium being held at Colorado Springs, regarding future commercial space stations and their design. Starship is key to commercial space habitats due to its immense payload capacity and the low cost to orbit due to its real usability.
The payload to orbit of a spacecraft refers to the maximum weight that it can carry into orbit around the Earth. Therefore, comparing the payload to orbit of the Starship, SLS and the Space Shuttle can help evaluate their potential impact on creating new space stations.
Starship vs. STS & SLS
The Space Shuttle (STS) had a payload to orbit of around 27,500 kg. Starship, currently in development by SpaceX, is designed to carry a payload of up to 150,000 kg (reusable launcher) or 250,000kg (disposable launcher) into orbit. For context, this means that only two Starship launches would be required to place the International Space Station into orbit compared with the 30 shuttle launches that were needed.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58120874
The Starship’s higher payload capacity could significantly impact the creation of new space stations. With its ability to carry larger payloads into orbit, the Starship could enable the construction of larger and more complex space stations than were possible with the Space Shuttle.
This would allow for more extensive research, experimentation, and other activities in space.
In addition, unlike NASA’s new SLS rocket which is a disposable rocket, Starship is designed to be fully reusable, significantly reducing the cost of launching payloads into space. This cost reduction could make launching and maintaining space stations more economically feasible, encouraging their creation and use.
Starship and Commercial Space Stations
There are currently several commercial space station designs that various private companies are proposing, each with their unique features and timescales.
01. Axiom Space Station:
Axiom Space, a Houston-based space exploration company, plans to launch its first commercial space station module in 2024. The Axiom Space Station will initially attach to the International Space Station (ISS) and eventually become an independent space station after the ISS is decommissioned. The space station will accommodate up to four passengers and offer facilities for research, manufacturing, and space tourism.
02. Blue Origin Orbital Reef:
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, has proposed a commercial space station called the Orbital Reef, which will accommodate up to ten people. The company has not yet announced a timeline for the launch of the space station, but it is expected to be operational in the late 2020s. The Orbital Reef will offer facilities for research, space manufacturing, and space tourism.
03. Bigelow Aerospace B330:
Bigelow Aerospace, a Nevada-based space exploration company, has proposed a commercial space station called the B330, which will accommodate up to six people. The company has not yet announced a timeline for the launch of the space station, but it is expected to be operational in the late 2020s. The B330 will offer facilities for research, space manufacturing, and space tourism.
04. Nanoracks Outpost:
Nanoracks, a Texas-based space exploration company, has proposed a commercial space station called the Outpost, which can accommodate up to four people. The company has not yet announced a timeline for the launch of the space station, but it is expected to be operational in the mid-2020s. The Outpost will offer facilities for research, space manufacturing, and space tourism.
Each commercial space station design has unique features and advantages, with proposed timescales ranging from the mid-2020s to the late 2020s. These stations are expected to offer facilities for research, space manufacturing, and space tourism and could play a vital role in commercialising space exploration in the coming years. In addition, Airbus have also announced the creation of a commercial space habitat which coincidentally could fit within the payload bay of a Starship.
If the 2010s gave birth to the advent of reusable space rockets, we could say that the 2020s and 2030s will herald the start of mass habitation of low earth orbit. Of course, all this hinges on the success of Starship however, by the end of 2023, we will be able to celebrate the dawn of a new era of reusable mass payload launch capability or a return to the drawing board and with it a set back which could cost decades.
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