After the International Space Station: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Industry, and the Future of Commercial Spaceflight in Low-Earth Orbit

New Space ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zack Hester
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
International Space ◽  
The Future

NASA sets sights on private space stations

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Private Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Space ◽  
Foreign Governments ◽  
Corporate Clients

Subject Space stations. Significance As Washington returns its sights to the moon, it is reforming its policies regarding the International Space Station (ISS) with a view to jump-starting a 'low-earth orbit economy' in which private firms offer services to corporate clients, foreign governments and wealthy individuals. Impacts China's space station, due for completion in 2022, could draw third-country projects away from commercial US space stations. Governments are more promising clients for commercial crewed spaceflight than 'space tourists' are. Commercial stations and passenger spacecraft could make human spaceflight accessible to allied states. Spaceflight will remain politicised.

scholarly journals Asgardia’s project for a new module to expand Space Station

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
Igor R. Ashurbeyli ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Space Science ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
International Space ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Industrial Partnership ◽  
Private Sector Involvement

Private sector involvement in the International Space Station (ISS) is becoming increasingly important as commercial organisations provide services and hardware to enhance the orbital operations of the Space Station which, in November 2020, marked two decades of continuous occupation. During the first Asgardia Space Science & Investment Conference, held in Germany in October 2019, a project to add a new commercially procured docking module to the ISS was announced as a key step to expanding the permanent human presence in low Earth orbit. Dr Igor Ashurbeyli, General Designer, provides a technical overview of the project and the industrial partnership arranged to deliver it.

scholarly journals Low Earth Orbit Space Environment Testing of Extreme Temperature 6H-SiC JFETs on the International Space Station

2011 ◽  
Vol 679-680 ◽  
pp. 579-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip G. Neudeck ◽  
Norman F. Prokop ◽  
Lawrence C. Greer III ◽  
Liang Yu Chen ◽  
Michael J. Krasowski
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Field Effect Transistors ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Orbit Space ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Measured Temperature ◽  
International Space

This paper reports long-term electrical results from two 6H-SiC junction field effect transistors (JFETs) presently being tested in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space environment on the outside of the International Space Station (ISS). The JFETs have demonstrated excellent functionality and stability through 4600 hours of LEO space deployment. Observed changes in measured device characteristics tracked changes in measured temperature, consistent with well-known JFET temperature-dependent device physics.

scholarly journals Molecular repertoire of Deinococcus radiodurans after 1 year of exposure outside the International Space Station within the Tanpopo mission

Microbiome ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel Ott ◽  
Yuko Kawaguchi ◽  
Denise Kölbl ◽  
Elke Rabbow ◽  
Petra Rettberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Deinococcus Radiodurans ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Planetary Protection ◽  
International Space

Abstract Background The extraordinarily resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans withstands harsh environmental conditions present in outer space. Deinococcus radiodurans was exposed for 1 year outside the International Space Station within Tanpopo orbital mission to investigate microbial survival and space travel. In addition, a ground-based simulation experiment with conditions, mirroring those from low Earth orbit, was performed. Methods We monitored Deinococcus radiodurans cells during early stage of recovery after low Earth orbit exposure using electron microscopy tools. Furthermore, proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for the survival of Deinococcus radiodurans in low Earth orbit. Results D. radiodurans cells exposed to low Earth orbit conditions do not exhibit any morphological damage. However, an accumulation of numerous outer-membrane-associated vesicles was observed. On levels of proteins and transcripts, a multi-faceted response was detected to alleviate cell stress. The UvrABC endonuclease excision repair mechanism was triggered to cope with DNA damage. Defense against reactive oxygen species is mirrored by the increased abundance of catalases and is accompanied by the increased abundance of putrescine, which works as reactive oxygen species scavenging molecule. In addition, several proteins and mRNAs, responsible for regulatory and transporting functions showed increased abundances. The decrease in primary metabolites indicates alternations in the energy status, which is needed to repair damaged molecules. Conclusion Low Earth orbit induced molecular rearrangements trigger multiple components of metabolic stress response and regulatory networks in exposed microbial cells. Presented results show that the non-sporulating bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans survived long-term low Earth orbit exposure if wavelength below 200 nm are not present, which mirrors the UV spectrum of Mars, where CO2 effectively provides a shield below 190 nm. These results should be considered in the context of planetary protection concerns and the development of new sterilization techniques for future space missions.

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