As NASA plans to decommission the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of the decade, the next generation of orbital enterprise prepares to launch. Rocket-builder Blue Origin is aiming to have the first commercial space station—a solar-powered, “mixed-use business park” called Orbital Reef—operational by 2030.
Floating 311 miles above the Earth, the 29,300-cubic-foot installation will be self-supporting and feature sleeping quarters, social areas, and research facilities. Its central Core structure, with a volume of 8,228 cubic feet, is connected to an inflatable Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat from Sierra Space, a Colorado-based aerospace and space-technologies outfit.
The initial version will accommodate a total of 10 scientists, international astronauts, and tourists, shuttled back and forth via multiple craft. As for the modular Tinkertoy design, it allows Orbital Reef to expand into a much larger base camp over time. Here’s the vision of what life on low-Earth orbit will be like.
A Walk in the Dark
Illustration by Violet Frances
One of the most exciting opportunities available to astro-tourists will be a space walk. Though the capsule they’ll be ensconced in resembles the robot from Lost in Space, its life-support systems and relatively spacious interior make it far more comfortable than a conventional space suit while still providing exceptional views of Earth.
Growing Strains
Illustration by Violet Frances
One of the LIFE habitats will have a hydroponic Astro Garden to provide crew members with fresh produce when they want a break from freeze-dried meals. Sierra Space has tested a self-contained “plant pillow”—a Teflon-coated bag made of Nomex and Kevlar—containing water, fertilizer, and other growth agents to facilitate harvesting vegetables. “A lot of work goes into getting fresh food into space,” says Angie Wise, Sierra Space’s chief safety officer. “If we go to Mars eventually, we have to learn how to grow our own.”
The Ultimate Zoom Background
Illustration by Violet Frances
This 10,594-cubic-foot LIFE habitat is where all social interaction will take place, with its galley and dining area, sleeping bays, and fitness amenities. The plans show café-like tables, with fresh vegetables lining the walls, and the capability for projected video calls with Earth (among its many technical advances, the space station will also have Wi-Fi). Admittedly, bunking will be basic in the initial Orbital Reef: A prototype setup at Sierra Space’s headquarters alludes to a hammock harnessed to the ceiling, requiring you to buckle in for some zero-gravity z’s.
Rooms With a View
Illustration by Violet Frances
Orbital Reef’s initial layout features individual sleeping areas, but the long-term plan is for hotel accommodations. Tourists looking to pass the time productively might choose to participate in ongoing research projects or maybe get a workout in, as exercise deters the type of bone-density loss common to extended periods of weightlessness. Others may be content to simply admire the ever-changing view, since the space station completes 16 orbits per day.
Higher Learning
Illustration by Violet Frances
As the destination for scientists to conduct research in microgravity, Orbital Reef will feature two-tier labs—8,200 cubic feet in total volume—for hosting hundreds of experiments that could vary from the 3-D printing of human organs to developing batteries that increase the range of today’s electric vehicles tenfold. The scientific accoutrements on hand will include incubators, freezers, bio-fabrication banks, and centrifuges.