Jeff Bezos’s Space Station Proposal Passed Three Key Tests
The International Space Station has a limited lifespan, prompting NASA to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into potential successors. Among these prospects is Orbital Reef, a collaborative project between Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, and Sierra Space.
NASA announced on Wednesday that Orbital Reef achieved four significant milestones in its crucial technologies, including a system designed to recycle the urine of future astronauts and space tourists.
Angela Hart, manager of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program, emphasized the importance of these milestones for ensuring the viability of a commercial space destination to sustain human life.
Testing Orbital Reef’s Regenerative System
The milestones primarily focused on testing Orbital Reef’s regenerative system, which is vital for providing clean air and water necessary for human survival aboard the space station. These tests evaluated the system’s capacity to purify air, recover urine for recycling, and manage water resources.
Similar to the International Space Station (ISS), which employs a comparable water and oxygen recycling system, Orbital Reef’s technology aims to repurpose urine into potable water. Despite the initial discomfort at the idea, former ISS Commander Chris Hadfield highlighted the purity of the recycled water, surpassing the quality of most drinking water available on Earth.
Astronauts aboard the ISS have been consuming recycled urine for approximately 15 years, significantly reducing the need to transport large volumes of water from Earth. This practice not only cuts down on launch costs but also contributes to cost-saving measures for NASA.
Blue Origin’s forthcoming space station
In pursuit of its objective to create commercially operated, American-managed space stations in low-Earth orbit as successors to the ISS, NASA granted Blue Origin and Sierra Space $172 million. These future stations will serve as destinations for NASA’s astronauts, who will lease accommodations and laboratory facilities. Given that these stations will be owned by commercial entities, they may also be accessible to space tourists.
“On its website, Blue Origin describes spacious modules featuring expansive windows for observing Earth, offering the exhilarating sensation of weightlessness in utmost comfort.”
The International Space Station’s lifespan is nearing its end
Beyond financial concerns, the International Space Station is facing aging-related issues. Instances include the emergence of cracks in a Russian module and air leakage from another section. Moreover, recent years have witnessed challenges such as toilet malfunctions, unexplained temperature fluctuations, and breakdowns in the oxygen supply system.
The Biden administration has pledged to maintain operations on the ISS until at least 2030. By that time, NASA intends to have transitioned to at least one privately owned space station. If the strategy proceeds as intended, the vacant and decommissioned ISS will be deliberately deorbited, burning up upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere and ultimately descending into the ocean.
Thus, there is still a window to save up for a chance to visit Orbital Reef. Though ticket prices have not been disclosed, it’s worth noting that experiencing a brief journey to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket can require tens of millions of dollars.
Read the original article on: Science Alert
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