Analysis: This will provide the required capital for the Nanoracks External Platform to be delivered to ISS in the next year or so. Also, I would not be surprised if some of the money were to be used to expand the company into asteroid/Moon/Mars exploration activities.
Quote from: Danderman on 06/17/2013 03:40 pmAnalysis: This will provide the required capital for the Nanoracks External Platform to be delivered to ISS in the next year or so. Also, I would not be surprised if some of the money were to be used to expand the company into asteroid/Moon/Mars exploration activities.Care to speculate on the BEO exploration activities that would be conducted/offered?
My speculation is just that. I would imagine that when crewed spacecraft are sent out there, their confined volumes would lend themselves to small experiments, such as those supported by Nanoracks.
The first Lithuanian-made satellite Lituanica SAT-1 departs for NASA space center in the US on October 17th.
Quote from: Danderman on 10/15/2013 02:34 pmThe first Lithuanian-made satellite Lituanica SAT-1 departs for NASA space center in the US on October 17th.Here's web page for this nanosatellite: Lituanica SAT-1Unfortunately, more detailed info is only in Lithuanian. They are probably too busy now to update English version...
Ha ha. I appears that Cygnus mission will in fact carry TWO Lithuanian "first" satellites. Second one (or first...) is called LitSat-1. Actually, this one is a bit more interesting, as it will carry prototype of piezoelectric motor based attitude control system. Unfortunately, no info in English. Here's one google-tranlated article:Article on LitSat-1
Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch http://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/26/two-lithuanian-cubesats/It is hoped that two Lithuanian satellites will be among the CubeSats sent by Nanoracks LLC to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX CRS-3 mission in November, 2013. They will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).The Kaunas University of Technology is developing LituanicaSAT-1 while the Lithuanian Space Federation is working on LitSat-1.
So from http://www.klofas.com/papers/klofas_amsat2013.pdf the 28+ Flock-1 cubesats, all from one single company, will utilize deployers from Nanoracks. How will they be put on the Antares upper stage and released?
A lineup of satellites have been installed in the NanoRacks Cubesat Deployer, and are ready for their trip to the International Space Station!
The satellites are (from left to right): LithuanicaSat, LitSat, SkyCube, ArduSat-2, and UAPSat.
Go Nanoracks!Is there a thread or a resource anywhere with details on how satellites can be safely popped out of Kibo, presumably bound for many different orbits, without getting in the way of Station or each other? Forum search + about five minutes on Google were fruitless.
Is there a thread or a resource anywhere with details on how satellites can be safely popped out of Kibo, presumably bound for many different orbits, without getting in the way of Station or each other? Forum search + about five minutes on Google were fruitless.
Square/cube law means the smaller thing has less mass per surface area, so less inertia to power through the amount of atmo it'll run into? So Kibo-bound cubesats are destined for a lower (and presumably not terribly long-lived) orbit than Station? (Which resolves the issue of potentially running back into them during a Progress-reboost?) And if falling to a lower orbit, therefore deployed retrograde?
QuoteThe satellites are (from left to right): LithuanicaSat, LitSat, SkyCube, ArduSat-2, and UAPSat.
NanoRacks Announces 6U and 12U CubeSats for ISS DeploymentGuadalajara, MX, September 27, 2016–NanoRacks is pleased to announce that starting early 2017, customers will be able to utilize the International Space Station a new CubeSat deployer that accommodates additional industry standards. This announcement comes after a successful deployment cycle of eight Planet Labs Doves (2e’) CubeSats two weeks ago from the Space Station.NanoRacks will utilize a 12U CubeSat standard offering maximum utilization of the Company’s commercial ISS deployment opportunities. The deployer will house two 6U CubeSats in the 2x3U Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC) form factor, or one 12U CubeSat in the never before offered 2x6U form factor.Both the 6U and 12U are open for business. The 12U configuration is first planned for launch in early 2017.
Flying Through Our First 7 YearsApril 5, 2017 //(Photo: NanoRacks Houston Team 2017)Our first 7 years have flown by at NanoRacks. Today, we celebrate the seventh anniversary of our first platform ever flown to the International Space Station- the NanoRacks Frame-1 launched on STS-131.What started as a technology company operating from a friend’s Houston garage has manifested into one of the world’s leading provider of commercial access to space. We at NanoRacks are proud to continue building on our same mission from day one: democratizing access to space.Our journey began with our first two research platforms- NanoRacks Frame 1 and 2, and the customers quickly followed. We then added MixStix for basic research, and then grew to launch our Plate Reader and Centrifuge for advanced science applications. We then built the NanoRacks External Platform – the first-ever commercial gateway to the extreme space environment.Next came our biggest market success, which leverages one of the original intents of the International Space Station: Satellite deployment. Today, we operate as the leading provider for CubeSat deployment from the International Space Station having deployed over 150 CubeSats to date. This is a major accomplishment for the whole team at NanoRacks as our satellite program has shown a vital role for space stations in a maturing market. We are proud of our role in facilitating the growth and development of at least four startup companies, including Planet Labs, Spire, NanoAvionics, and GomSpace- all who started with their first CubeSats via NanoRacks. And now there is a core business of organizations seeking to utilize the unique advantages of a space station deployment. Whether “Stash and Deploy” – where the customer picks the time of deployment for satellite stored on station, to launching complex satellites in the gentle environment of station cargo ships, or for the development of a greater sophistication in on-orbit manufacturingAs always, the NanoRack’s hardware has been funded by our investors, with no funding from the U.S. Government. What’s more, we have uniquely worked ways to “pay-back” NASA for use of on-station resources, thereby pushing public –private partnerships to commercial levels previously unseen in the space station community.Today, we not only celebrate our past, but also our future. We are investing the future of commercial space exploration. We’re partnering across the industry – from payload integration with our friends at Blue Origin to building the NanoRacks Airlock Module with Boeing Aerospace, we’re paving the way for U.S. industry leadership to the stars and back.We look forward to developing our Ixion concept throughout 2017 with our partners at Space Systems Loral using the Atlas V launch vehicle Ixion utilizes an original NASA idea from Wernher von Braun – reuse, and repurpose, the upper stages of launch vehicles. We’re maximizing each part of the launch vehicle and changing the way we think about hardware in space: there’s no need to burn everything after one use.We’re also investing in technology to increase efficiency and decrease dependence on launch- from the “Stash and Deploy” concept to on-orbit manufacturing from commercial platforms, we’re making sure NanoRacks is at the front lines for all of our customers’ in-space needs.It hasn’t been easy. Our decision to launch new companies, such as our educational sister company “DreamUp,” perplexes those looking for a one-shot effort. However, DreamUp is already the number one in-space education company. It is our goal to build a family of companies that meet the in-space needs of our growing customer base, whether in low-earth orbit, cis-lunar or on to Mars. With customers from more than 25 nations, ranging from high schools to space agencies, from corporations to universities, we are doing something right!My personal goal is to have us involved with numerous commercial platforms and space stations, with crew and without, in differing orbits and locations, in the nearest future. Wouldn’t that be cool?No one can be sure what exactly the next seven years will hold, but they can be sure that NanoRacks will be there opening the doors to space each and every day.Thank you to all of our customers who have made running our business possible, and our friends at NASA who continue to allow us to leverage existing government hardware and services to help grow a new commercial market place.We’ll see you in orbit—Jeffrey ManberCEO, NanoRacks
Mods: not sure if this should have a better home, but:I spent this morning at NanoRacks HQ in Houston, and their airlock is confirmed to be manifested on SpaceX CRS-19. Saw the FPIP graphic and all.
NanoRacks Commercial Space Station Airlock “Bishop” Completes Critical Design Review, Moves to FabricationApril 17, 2018 – Colorado Springs, Colorado – The NanoRacks Space Station Airlock Module “Bishop” met another major milestone with completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) on March 20 and 21, 2018 in Houston, Texas. This milestone begins the transition from the engineering design phase to the fabrication phase. Detailed design drawings such as those for the critical pressure shell will be signed and released to NanoRacks fabrication partner, Thales Alenia Space, in order for them to continue their fabrication efforts. In February 2018, NanoRacks announced that Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), was chosen as the latest partner in its commercial airlock program, joining with a number of key partners, including Boeing.Thales Alenia Space is set to produce and test the critical pressure shell for the NanoRacks Airlock Module and will also manufacture various secondary structures, including the Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) shields with Multi-Layer Isolation (MLI) panels, the power and video grapple fixture support structure and other structural components.Other key features, such as the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM), being manufactured by Boeing, require a long lead time and have been in production for over a year now. The PCBM will be delivered to Thales Alenia Space in May 2018 and will then be installed to the pressure shell.“I’m very proud of the NanoRacks engineering team and our partner, ATA Engineering, who performs the structural and thermal analysis for Bishop,” says Airlock Project Manager Brock Howe. “This is a crucial milestone that required many long hours, and the team has been working together very smoothly. We’re also very appreciative of our relationship with NASA and the International Space Station Program Office, as they have provided guidance and expertise in several critical areas. As always, there is plenty of work still to do – and we will continue to push forward.”The next major milestone is the Phase II Safety Review scheduled for June 2018. The project is still on track to meet the SpaceX CRS-19 launch, targeting fourth quarter 2019.Download the press release pdf.For additional media inquiries, please email Abby Dickes at [email protected].For continued updates, be sure to follow @NanoRacks on Twitter.
QuoteNanoRacks Commercial Space Station Airlock “Bishop” Completes Critical Design Review, Moves to Fabricationhttp://nanoracks.com/airlock-bishop-completes-critical-design-review/
NanoRacks Commercial Space Station Airlock “Bishop” Completes Critical Design Review, Moves to Fabrication
NanoRacks Brings Groundbreaking Satellite, Biological Research to International Space Station on SpaceX CRS-14Cape Canaveral, Florida – April 4, 2018 – NanoRacks, the leading provider for commercial access to low-Earth orbit, has brought yet another unique payload mission to the International Space Station. Carrying a professional protein crystal experiment, college-level biological research, and a debris capturing microsatellite (MicroSat), this mission continues to push the boundaries of commercial opportunities on the International Space Station.The SpaceX CRS-14 Dragon was successfully installed on the Harmony Module of the International Space Station at 9:00 EDT this morning. NanoRacks third flagship MicroSat mission is the RemoveDebris satellite from The University of Surrey/Surrey Space Centre. The RemoveDebris satellite is planned to be deployed from the NanoRacks Kaber Deployer (Kaber). NanoRacks created the Kaber system to accommodate the increasing customer demand for commercial opportunities to deploy MicroSats from the Space Station. Kaber offers deployments for satellites up to 100 kilograms. RemoveDebris is a low-cost mission funded jointly by the European Commission (EU) and 10 partners. Surrey Space Centre (University of Surrey) leads the consortium. The consortium consists of: Airbus, Ariane Group (France); Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (United Kingdom), Innovative Solutions In Space (Netherlands); CSEM (Switzerland); Inria (France); Stellenbosch University (South Africa). Once deployed, RemoveDebris will deploy two CubeSats as artificial debris targets to demonstrate some of the technologies being discussed for orbital debris removal. These technologies include: net capture, harpoon capture, vision-based navigation, and “dragsail de-orbitation.”
We have a #BishopAirlock update! Working very closely with @NASA and @BoeingSpace, #BishopAirlock is targeting launch to @Space_Station on @SpaceX CRS-21 next year! Manufacturing is near completion, and seal leak checks are complete at the @Thales_Alenia_S facility in Italy.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 04/17/2018 02:50 pmQuoteNanoRacks Commercial Space Station Airlock “Bishop” Completes Critical Design Review, Moves to Fabricationhttp://nanoracks.com/airlock-bishop-completes-critical-design-review/The Bishop Airlock is being discussed in the ISS section: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36955.0
They're also going to be doing... something on orbit with a Cyclone 4M upper stage. Debut launch of that isn't planned until 2021 though, so it can't be this mission https://www.maritimelaunch.com/news/2019-10-23/nanoracks-signs-agreement-canadas-maritime-launch-re-use-c4m-upper-stages-orbit
Nanoracks Announces In-Space Outpost DemonstrationNanoracks 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.
This is exciting stuff.Now the technology to do this is being demonstrated. If this works, might SpaceX convert some of its F9 upper stages and compete with Bigelow for space station business? Or let’s say an SLS core stage or two gets orbited, those would make ginormous space stations or satellite factories. There are a lot of possibilities out there.
This is exciting stuff.I recall reading about the original plan for Skylab being a “wet workshop” launched into orbit with leftover fuel and that being drained and subsequently converted into the space station. Later there were discussions about converting Shuttle ET’s into space stations and other craft.Now the technology to do this is being demonstrated. If this works, might SpaceX convert some of its F9 upper stages and compete with Bigelow for space station business? Or let’s say an SLS core stage or two gets orbited, those would make ginormous space stations or satellite factories. There are a lot of possibilities out there.
Just finished year review. Our Bishop Airlock on track for SpaceX-21 August launch as permanent addition to ISS. In December our Mars Demo-1 technology testbed takes place on Falcon platform + all year the dozens of ISS payloads and satellites for customers. 2020 will rock!
April Update From NanoracksWe wanted to bring our community up to date on everything going on here at Nanoracks. Since the COVID-19 pandemic took full force, our top priority has been the health and safety of our team. We have over 75 employees and outside consultants that are spread across Houston, Washington DC, New York, Italy, and the UAE – some of the hardest hit areas – and we’re very happy to say that as of this note, everyone on our team and their respective families remain healthy. Our next priority is of course our customers. Nanoracks has been deemed an “essential business,” allowing us the opportunity to cautiously proceed forward with ongoing activities. Just last week, the SpaceX-20 Dragon splashed back down on Earth, allowing us to return critical science to our customers across the country. The big difference is that instead of going to university and commercial labs, the deliveries were sent to customers’ homes where they will work on analyzing their science results.On-orbit operations remain active in our BRIDGE (our in-house Mission Control), and we are coordinating very closely with NASA and the astronaut crew office. Being deemed essential has allowed us to (literally) keep our doors open to employees. We are abiding by all required and suggested CDC guidelines, with only critical staff, in limited quantities, present in our Houston facilities at any one time. All employees who are coming into the office are doing so voluntarily, and we are very grateful for their dedication to our in-space programs.Importantly, our Bishop Airlock team is continuing to conduct their work in our cleanroom to ensure that we remain on schedule for launch this Fall on the SpaceX-21 mission. The Bishop Airlock is not only going to support our increasing demand of commercial customers on the Space Station, but also support NASA in critical crew activities, including moving hardware in and out of the Space Station to support EVAs, and other material needs that we hope to announce very soon! While some of our team members are coming into our shop, the vast majority are working from home. With frequent check-ins and some unique beard-growing competitions, spirits remain high, and we can’t wait to be back in the office with our Nanoracks family soon. In the meantime, follow us for live updates on our Twitter and Instagram accounts (both @Nanoracks), where we’re showing off the #PupsOfNanoracks (and yes, other pets) that are helping to keep our team members company while we are all #AloneTogether.Please reach out to us with any questions, ideas, or concerns you may have at [email protected] – we are here to support our space-loving community. We are still planning on a number of exciting announcements this year that we can’t wait to share with everyone – but for now, we hope that our entire community remains healthy, strong, and as creative as ever.Sincerely,Your Friends at Nanoracks
Will the volume of Bishop be vented into space each cycle or does Node 3 have a vacuum pump?
“It is really simple. It is just an open-ended cup,” said Mike Lewis, chief innovation officer of Nanoracks, during a virtual tour of the airlock. It relies on existing ISS systems for capabilities such as “air-save” pumps to remove air from the module, losing only 2% of the air in each airlock cycle.
All deployments will move through the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock on the ISS starting in Q1 2021.
Nanoracks Books CubeSat Rideshare and Habitat Building Demonstration in Single SpaceX Falcon 9 LaunchNovember 18, 2019 – Washington DC – Nanoracks, the world’s leading commercial space station company, has booked a launch mission like no other, leveraging the recently announced SpaceX Rideshare program. Onboard a Falcon 9, targeting launch in late 2020, Nanoracks has booked deployment of eight small satellites as well as the Company’s first in-space Outpost-demonstration mission.
Quote from: gongora on 11/18/2019 05:22 pmNanoracks Books CubeSat Rideshare and Habitat Building Demonstration in Single SpaceX Falcon 9 LaunchNovember 18, 2019 – Washington DC – Nanoracks, the world’s leading commercial space station company, has booked a launch mission like no other, leveraging the recently announced SpaceX Rideshare program. Onboard a Falcon 9, targeting launch in late 2020, Nanoracks has booked deployment of eight small satellites as well as the Company’s first in-space Outpost-demonstration mission.According to this article in Wired the demo payload has slipped to a May flight.[Wired] The Plan to Turn Scrapped Rockets Into Space Stations
We are proud to announce that Bishop Airlock is fully commissioned and operational on the ISS. We’d like to thank NASA and all our teammates for helping us get to this point and look forward to the Airlock enabling lots of exciting science in the future.
A new research centre in Abu Dhabi will use the UAE desert as a testing ground to explore how space technology can help food production thrive in challenging climates – on Earth and beyond.US-based firm Nanoracks, which specialises in launching small payloads such as mini and cube satellites, will establish a commercial space research centre called StarLab Oasis in the capital.The company, which opened an office in Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 in 2019, has received funding from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office for the programme.
Hollywood has officially entered the space race, as plans for a second film and TV studio in outer space have been unveiled.Space 11 Corp, which was set up by “Survivor” producer Andrea Iervolino and is run by MMA fighter turned producer John Lewis, is exploring a deal with Voyager Space company Nanoracks to build a free-flying space station that will function as a soundstage in zero gravity.Named S11S, the module can also be used as a live venue and will contain accommodation and sleeping quarters. Nanoracks, the largest commercial user of the International Space Station, expects the studio to be operational by 2027.
Have Nanoracks announced a date for the first use of Bishop?
At an #IAC2022 breakfast this morning, Nanoracks announced it will set up a terrestrial facility for its George Washington Carver Science Park (for its Starlab space station) at Ohio State Univ. Using existing lab now, groundbreaking next year for a standalone building.
Voyager Space Names Retired NASA Astronaut, Tim Kopra as Chief Executive Officer of NanoracksNEWS PROVIDED BYVoyager Space Nov 09, 2022, 09:00 ETHOUSTON, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Space (Voyager), a global leader in space exploration, and its operating company Nanoracks, today announced the appointment of Tim Kopra as Chief Executive Officer of Nanoracks. Kopra, a retired NASA astronaut and former president of OneWeb Technologies, will oversee Nanoracks' continued growth as a global leader in providing commercial space services, including the development of Starlab, the companies' proposed commercial space station."Nanoracks is paving the way for what's possible in space," said Matthew Kuta, President and COO, Voyager. "Tim is a one-of-a-kind leader with a level of experience that is unmatched in this industry. As an astronaut who served on the International Space Station, he understands the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities for commercial space services and will provide invaluable insight as we continue down our development path on Starlab. We couldn't be more excited to have Tim on the Voyager team and look forward to seeing him take Nanoracks to new heights."A seasoned executive and leader, Kopra served as the President of OneWeb Technologies and as Vice President, Robotics and Space Operations for MDA. Prior to his work in the private sector, Kopra spent 18 years as an astronaut for NASA, including his role as a flight engineer on Expedition 46 and commander of Expedition 47. Kopra is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He earned his BS from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, an MS in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, and MBAs from Columbia Business School and London Business School."This is a very critical and exciting time to join Nanoracks. I am looking forward to applying my skill set and experience as a former astronaut as well as a space industry executive to further our technologies and capabilities powering the space revolution, forging the next generation of space infrastructure and technology," added Kopra.Kopra's appointment comes among other exciting announcements for Voyager and Nanoracks. The companies announced a historic partnership with Hilton to design crew lodging and hospitality suites aboard Starlab in September. Voyager and Nanoracks also announced The Ohio State University will host the George Washington Carver Science Park's terrestrial lab and signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with five Latin American space agencies.
Airbus joins Starlab commercial space station projectQuote from: SpaceNewsAirbus Defence and Space is joining a commercial space station project led by Voyager Space, a move that could potentially make it easier for European governments to use the station after the retirement of the International Space Station.Denver-based Voyager Space announced Jan. 4 a partnership with Airbus on its Starlab commercial space station project. Airbus will provide “technical design support and expertise” for Starlab, the companies said, but did not disclose additional details about the partnership or financial terms.
Airbus Defence and Space is joining a commercial space station project led by Voyager Space, a move that could potentially make it easier for European governments to use the station after the retirement of the International Space Station.Denver-based Voyager Space announced Jan. 4 a partnership with Airbus on its Starlab commercial space station project. Airbus will provide “technical design support and expertise” for Starlab, the companies said, but did not disclose additional details about the partnership or financial terms.
It looks like Starlab is going from an inflatable to a rigid designVideo from @Nanoracks. The habitation module was originally going to be inflatable and built by @LMSpace.@DavidNagySFgang pointed out on my discord that this is too wide to fit in a New Glenn fairing. Maybe it’ll get a custom top fairing like Skylab on NG or maybe be a starship payload?Upon closer inspection the NG logo is no longer on the station, so they may no longer be a part of this deal.
Unleashing the next generation of space destinations. 🚀#Starlab is planned to be the first continuously crewed, free-flying commercial space station. Learn all about our new-era #space platform via our newly launched site - check it out!https://starlab-space.com/
Re commercial LEO, Mark Sirangelo says Nanoracks has signed an agreement with India to use India's crewed spacecraft to service Starlab.