NASA’S sci-fi-like space station has announced breakthroughs bringing the out-there project closer to reality.
The Orbital Reef is a space station meant to exist in Earth’s low atmosphere to give scientists continued access to space and advancement.
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The space station is created by Billionaire Jeff Bezos’s company Blue Origin in partnership with NASA as part of their commercial space strategy.
“NASA is enabling commercial industry to build, own, and operate space systems with the agency purchasing services for its science and research needs. Industry also can use those same services for fully commercial activities in space,” the government body’s statement on commercial space travel reads.
“Through our public-private partnerships, we are helping open space to more science, more people, and more opportunities.”
The Orbital Reef project was given four milestones as part of the NASA Space Act Agreement penned in 2021 that gave life to the project, reports NASA.
The milestones include testing materials and designs that function to clean, reclaim, and store the air and water necessary to sustain humans in space flight.
With the recent critical life support milestones testing positively, this milestone marks another step forward to the project’s goal of keeping the United States a part of space exploration.
Angela Hart, manager of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program explained how crucial these tests are to keep the project moving forward.
“These milestones are critical to ensuring that a commercial destination can support human life so NASA astronauts can continue to have access to low Earth orbit to conduct important scientific research in the unique microgravity environment,” she said.
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“Additionally, each milestone that is completed allows NASA to gain insight into our partner’s progress on station design and development.”
The Orbital Reef’s life support system will mirror that of the International Space Station’s, a regenerative system that recycles air and waste produced by humans onboard.
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These regenerative functions are integral to reducing the amount of supplies that need to be transported into space.
Testing on the project’s life support systems includes a trace contaminant control test, water contaminant oxidation test, urine water recovery test, and water tank test.
BLUE ORIGIN’S ORBITAL REEF INCEPTION
The conceptual model for the orbital reef was first released to the public in November 2022.
A conceptual video took viewers from launch to orbit, showing what the space station might look like when completed.
The film was highly romanticized, showing a real potential for full lives to be lived on board.
People were seen creating art, dancing, and even enjoying romances.
One dramatic scene showed a woman gazing at Earth out of a station window.
“Your address, in orbit,” a single statement concluded the video.
The space station will function in both a residential capacity, for those who can afford it, and a research function as part of the partnership with NASA.
RESIDENCE IN SPACE
The development will be made up of spacious modules, living spaces, with large Earth-facing windows to let travelers soak in views of our planet.
Travelers experience weightlessness and living and working in space with a lease or rental aboard the project.
Numerous amenities for any length of the visit will be available for travelers, reports Bezos’s company, including medical care and recreation opportunities.
In addition to those living there of their own curious volition, scientists will be housed there for work.
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They will be provided accommodation and laboratories – including a micro garden – needed for fundamental science applications
“Whether for physical, biological, or Earth science, for new product development, or for testing exploration systems, you’ll find it easier than ever to do your work in orbit,” the Blue Origin website reads.
What is the ISS?
Here’s what you need to know about the International Space Station…
- The International Space Station, often abbreviated to ISS, is a large space craft that orbits Earth and houses astronauts who go up there to complete scientific missions
- Many countries worked together to build it and they work together to use it
- It is made up of many pieces, which astronauts had to send up individually on rockets and put together from 1998 to 2000
- Ever since the year 2000, people have lived on the ISS
- Nasa uses the station to learn about living and working in space
- It is approximately 250 miles above Earth and orbits around the planet just like a satellite
- Living inside the ISS is said to be like living inside a big house with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a gym, lots of science labs and a big bay window for viewing Earth
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