Axiom Space, a private space company based in Houston, has announced that its commercial space station will be able to operate as a free-flying platform as early as 2028. The company had previously planned to launch the station in 2030, but has revised its plan to accelerate the assembly sequence.
The new plan involves launching the Payload/Power/Thermal module to the International Space Station (ISS) first, followed by the launch of the Habitat modules. After detaching from the ISS, this module could become a free flyer called Axiom Station, with operations starting as soon as 2028. The company has coordinated its new plan with NASA to ensure a smooth transition for both parties.
Axiom Space aims to establish a commercial outpost in low Earth orbit that will continue operating after the ISS is retired by 2030 at the earliest. The station will be used to support space research, manufacturing, and other activities, with plans to serve a community of global customers and partners, including NASA.
The revised plan also protects space on the ISS for a planned SpaceX deorbit vehicle, which will bring the huge outpost down for controlled destruction in Earth’s atmosphere in 2030 or thereabouts. Axiom Space has a history of innovation, having become the first to bring a flight of all private citizens to the ISS with its Ax-1 mission in April 2021.
As the ISS prepares to retire, a new era of private space stations is set to begin, with companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Sierra Space, and others vying for a role. Axiom Space is poised to play a significant part in this development, and its revised plan marks an exciting milestone on its journey towards establishing a commercial presence in space.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/axioms-private-space-station-is-coming-sooner-than-we-thought