posted 04-10-2018 01:11 PM               

Outposts are the pillars of exploration, and we're setting up camp in the solar system. We'll start in low-Earth orbit, where Nanoracks continues to bring customers to market. We'll expand from there, following the market — and following our customers. Whether a hub for satellite deployment or for a luxurious hotel stay — your outpost is ready to launch.

In November 2017, Nanoracks, along with Space Systems Loral (MAXAR), MDA US Systems, Altius Space, and Space Adventures, proved to NASA that it is technically feasible to repurpose a spent second stage of a rocket while in space. This concept is known as a "Wet Lab," and was originally a concept from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in the 1960s.

America's first outpost, Skylab, was made from a spent Saturn V fuel tank. It was manufactured on the ground, but an important stepping stone for re-using spent upper stages.

Robotically Outfitted

Decades of advances in robotics will allow Nanoracks to manufacture our outposts in space. MDA US Systems has analyzed the robotic systems required build this structure in space. Made for customer needs - whether as a home, satellite deployment venue, or a research hub - we're ready for you. This cost-saving technique will revolutionze space exploration.

Independence-1

Our first outpost will be INDEPENDENCE-1.

The Nanoracks Space Outpost Program which was chosen to be part of NASA's NextSTEP effort, successfully conducted a comprehensive feasibility study evaluating the conversion of rocket upper stages into habitats. This innovative approach offers a pathway that is more affordable and involves less risk than fabricating modules on the ground and subsequently launching them into orbit.

Our team proposed demonstrating this revolutionary, low-cost concept via the conversion of a Centaur rocket upper stage which can either be attached to the International Space Station or serve as a free-flying outpost. Our first outpost, INDEPENDENCE-1, will serve as a proving ground for a variety of private sector activities leading to a new era in commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) utilization.

After being proven in LEO, the Wet Lab approach can be used to create deep space habitats from any future rocket upper stages, including the Space Launch System's upper stage, which would provide a substantial amount of volume and capability for beyond LEO human exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

posted 10-22-2019 08:20 AM               

Nanoracks Announces In-Space Outpost Demonstration

What a few months it has been! I know it has been some time since we've posted an update on our Outpost program and NASA NextSTEP-2 effort, but that's because we've been working on something really unique.

We have been working very hard with NASA to demonstrate how Nanoracks can make unique contributions to supporting the agency's efforts going forward to Moon, Mars, and deep space. NASA has turned to industry to put these exploration efforts into high gear. So, we at Nanoracks had to turn things up a notch.

Today, I'm really excited to share what these discussions have culminated to: Our very first in-space Outpost demonstration mission!

Nanoracks will be building a self-contained hosted payload platform that will demonstrate the robotic cutting of second stage representative tank material on-orbit. Never before has structural metal cutting been done in-space.

As a member of the Outpost program team, Maxar will develop a new articulating robotic arm with a friction milling end-effector for this mission. This friction milling will use high rotations per minute melting our metal material in such a way that a cut is made, yet we anticipate avoiding generating a single piece of orbital debris.

The mission is targeting a Q4 2020 dedicated rideshare mission, will fly on an ESPA ring, and will activate after the deployment of all other secondary payloads is complete.

As our mission commences, we will have 30 minutes to one hour to complete the cutting of three metal pieces that are representative of various vehicle upper stages, including the Centaur 3. Nanoracks plans to downlink photos and videos of the friction milling and cutting.

Now, for more exciting news – there's a chance for you to participate in this mission!

Nanoracks will be making available 3U of hosted payload space (no deployables) on this mission. Specifically, we are looking for bioscience and biomedical research that can directly contribute to our understanding of the harsh environment of space on long-duration journeys. We'll share an official call for proposals in the coming weeks!

Our team is always staying creative at Nanoracks, and we are still continuing to explore additional ways to get the most out of our first in-space demonstration mission.

At long last, Nanoracks is laying the groundwork for converting upper stages in orbit. This technology could prove so important as both industry and NASA look to find the most cost-effective vehicles and programs that will bring humans to the Moon, and soon to Mars. This mission is just step one of many for Nanoracks, and we are grateful to NASA for providing us with this outstanding opportunity.

Starting with our Q4 2020 mission, and many to follow, we plan to do some very interesting tests on upper stages in orbit – some of those plans I hope to share with you soon!

I am also personally excited about this mission as Nanoracks is showing how commercial access to the International Space Station has truly paved the way for future commercial platforms in orbit. We started our business on station, and now we are growing from our roots.