Airbus LOOP space station module proposal

[Hobbes-22]

Airbus has unveiled a proposal for a space station module with a diameter of 8 meters and a height of 8 meters. The module has 3 decks, one of which contains a centrifuge. The decks are arranged radially.

The Airbus LOOP is designed to fit with the upcoming generation of super-heavy launchers that can launch an entire module in one piece.

The Airbus LOOP consists of three levels. In its original design, these are a Habitation Deck, a Science Deck and a Centrifuge that can create gravity conditions for the inhabitants, reducing the stress of weightlessness on the human body.

https://www.airbus.com/en/airbus-loop

Universe Today article

[Eric Hedman]

This makes sense to me as the next generation of stations to have modules with this large diameter.  Since the launch capability is coming, why not something like this?

[DanClemmensen]

This makes sense to me as the next generation of stations to have modules with this large diameter.  Since the launch capability is coming, why not something like this?

Build a specialized Starship instead, with a 12 m hammerhead. It does not deliver a module. Instead, the SS becomes the module. non-EDL because it will stay in orbit. Cost-effective because SS high-volume production creates economies of scale for the non-custom portion and the Raptors.

[whitelancer64]

This makes sense to me as the next generation of stations to have modules with this large diameter.  Since the launch capability is coming, why not something like this?

Build a specialized Starship instead, with a 12 m hammerhead. It does not deliver a module. Instead, the SS becomes the module. non-EDL because it will stay in orbit. Cost-effective because SS high-volume production creates economies of scale for the non-custom portion and the Raptors.

Nonsense. This is a waste of the Starship tankage and Raptor engines, which will drive up the cost of Starship launches.

[spacediver]

Airbus has unveiled a proposal for a space station module with a diameter of 8 meters and a height of 8 meters. The module has 3 decks, one of which contains a centrifuge. The decks are arranged radially.

The Airbus LOOP is designed to fit with the upcoming generation of super-heavy launchers that can launch an entire module in one piece.

The Airbus LOOP consists of three levels. In its original design, these are a Habitation Deck, a Science Deck and a Centrifuge that can create gravity conditions for the inhabitants, reducing the stress of weightlessness on the human body.

https://www.airbus.com/en/airbus-loop

Universe Today article

Seems to be a copy of the 1970s McDonnell Douglas space station: http://www.astronautix.com/graphics/s/ss12md3.jpg
Originally designed to be launched on top of a Saturn V Int-21.

[the_big_boot]

do we know if is this station module going to be used on Starlab? I remember hearing about Airbus partnering up with the Starlab team a while ago

[jstrotha0975]

Sounds similar to the Skylab II proposal (also 8m) to launch on SLS.

[Hobbes-22]

do we know if is this station module going to be used on Starlab? I remember hearing about Airbus partnering up with the Starlab team a while ago

The station renderings on the Starlab site sure look like this Airbus module.

[Greg Hullender]

The centrifuge looks really tiny. Would that really be of any use to anyone? Or am I looking at the wrong part of the image?

[whitelancer64]

The centrifuge looks really tiny. Would that really be of any use to anyone? Or am I looking at the wrong part of the image?

The cylindrical object to the left of the word "centrifuge" in the video still is a docking port / airlock.

The centrifuge is the lowest deck. You can see it rotating, very briefly, at 9-12 seconds in the video.

[whitelancer64]

Here's a better labeled render from Airbus' LOOP brochure (PDF attached to this post):

https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2023-05/202304_AirbusLOOP_Brochure_V0.pdf

[whitelancer64]

Assuming the rotating portion would have a radius of 3.5 meters from the center,

To get Mars gravity 0.37 g, it needs to rotate at about 9.7 rpm, about one rotation every 6.2 seconds

For the Moon's 0.167 g, it needs about 6.5 rpm, about one rotation every 9.2 seconds

That g would be at the "floor" of the rotating parts.

Note: 1 g is 16 rpm, one rotation every 3.75 seconds.