Axiom Space has shuffled the assembly sequence of its space station to eliminate reliance on the International Space Station (ISS) by 2028.
The plan is for Axiom to attach modules to the ISS and then the modules. It will separate when the International Space Station retires. This creates a free-flying Axiom station.
Upon hearing the news, Axiom is revising the assembly order. A source from the space agency mused that “The end of the ISS may be closer than anyone thinks.”
SpaceX is this year make a contract to have a deorbit module for the ISS ready by 2029, and current plans call for sending the outpost back to Earth in 2030. However, Russia has not yet officially committed to maintaining the station beyond 2028. ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen tell Registration However, in October 2024 he “would not be surprised if we extended[International Space Station]for another couple of years.”
Axiom's timescales are getting tighter and tighter. As many years have passed The original order is to install the Habitat 1 (AxH1) module first, before the power and heating modules. change Swap the first two modules around – the Payload Power Thermal Module (AxPPTM) will be activated first, followed by the AxH1, the Habitat 2 airlock (AxH2) and the Research and Manufacturing Facility (AxRMF) will follow.
The AxPPTM structure will be built by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, and shipped to Houston no later than fall 2025 for interior fabrication by Axiom. Thales plans to use parts from AxH1 and AxH2. to speed up construction
“We were ready to answer the call when NASA asked us to reconsider our space station development plans,” said Mark Greeley, chief operating officer of Axiom Space and project manager for Axiom Station.
“Our ongoing evaluation of the assembly sequence reveals opportunities for flexibility and improvement. This is because the International Space Station needs to protect its ability to accommodate spacecraft that are released from orbit on the station. We were able to expedite this work to support the needs of the project.”
It is difficult to determine when ISS will retire. There is an official date mentioned earlier. But the final mission could happen sooner if there are additional hardware issues on the old station. Or if the political will to keep the fire eroded?
Some parts of the ISS are showing their age.
The US space agency, NASA and Russia's Roscosmos still disagree about the cause and severity of the incident. Air leak As for the Russian International Space Station NASA's Office of Inspector General described cracks and leaks in the service module transfer tunnel as “Highest security risk”
The leakage rate is set to increase by 2024, although NASA and Roscosmos have not agreed on when the leakage rate will become untenable. According to Mogensen, the worst-case scenario is if part of the ISS has to be sealed. This means that Roscosmos will have to give up its connection port.
Axiom's plan to fly free sooner than planned will give the company additional breathing space in the event of delays. But it also means another space station is likely to become available if the ISS retires prematurely.
