...It seems from the text of question 4 that SpaceX has an exclusive deal with Axiom for private astronaut missions to the ISS.
I will add my comment to this news. This is a big deal. It shows again that there is indeed a commercial market for space. Congrats to the UAE and Axiom! Hopefully, other countries will follow! Very exciting news!
Jebbo sorry but in my opinion you are looking at the wrong thing. You look at sleeping quarters, while the thing you have to look at is ECLSS systems capability. To show you graphically I've updated the system rack topology.You only looked at the orange racks, direct crew utility racks like the crew quarters, CASA, Galley rack, T2 treadmill and most likely the lavatory (WHC).What you're overlooking is all the green and blue racks. This is what is limiting the ISS crew for longtherm at 7 astronauts. I don't have the full picture of the ECLSS system capabilities. I expect Water recovery is the most limiting. Indeed the Axiom Hab modules will provide all facilities for four crew members. So they require:- 4x Crew quarter- Lavatory- most likely another Galley- a OGS (Oxygen Generation System)- a CO2 scrubber / ARS (Air Revitalization System) [also humidity control / water condenser]- a TCS (Thermal Control System)- most likely a water recovery systemAs a result of all these required systems, these modules can only accommodate the equivalence of two ISPR/ER-xB (Basic Express Racks) for science.I think the important thing to do in the ISS is micro gravity research/science/production. Not accommodating for as many as possible visiting and micro-G ruining astronauts/tourists.In my opinion space tourism and microG science can't be combined in the same station.
Either Dragon has 5th seat or NASA is giving up one of their seats. Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk
This is the Falcon 9 seat that Axiom Space got in exchange from Nasa, after the company gave up its Russian Soyuz rocket seat for American astronaut, Mark Vande Hei, in 2021.
So in a way Axiom are taking Cosmonaut's place on ISS.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 04/29/2022 08:02 pmSo in a way Axiom are taking Cosmonaut's place on ISS. Actually, it is a US astronaut seat that Axiom is taking. Essentially, NASA traded a US astronaut seat on Crew-6 for a Soyuz seat (Vande Hei's) much earlier. This provided them with extra insurance to have a US astronaut on station at all times if Crew Dragon's first operational mission was delayed past the completion of the last Soyuz seat obtained through the old arrangement (purchased through Boeing as part of the Sea Launch deal). But in exchange, they gave up one crew spot on a future expedition.Basically, you can think of it as Vande Hei having been "assigned" the Crew-6 seat, and having just taken his flight really early. In the end, it looks like NASA got a great deal that was better than the sum of its parts. In exchange for giving up a Crew-6 expedition member for the usual 180-day duration, they got an extra expedition member to get work done earlier, whose mission ended up getting doubled to nearly a year due to the crew logistics surrounding the Russian movie filming (which NASA was happy to take since it meant getting more "mileage" out of their seat swap). And as for Crew-6, even though NASA will be down a US crew member, the UAE astronaut who's flying instead will be serving as a full-time station participant, meaning that a lot of the same work on-station will still get done (just not by NASA) that would've otherwise been done by the US crew member who got "bumped".I wouldn't be surprised if NASA and Axiom knew the whole time that the plan was for the UAE to buy this seat from Axiom, but they held off on announcing it until now to avoid jumping the gun before Axiom had solidified its reputation with a successful first mission.
Quote from: gemmy0I on 04/30/2022 12:41 amQuote from: TrevorMonty on 04/29/2022 08:02 pmSo in a way Axiom are taking Cosmonaut's place on ISS. Actually, it is a US astronaut seat that Axiom is taking. Essentially, NASA traded a US astronaut seat on Crew-6 for a Soyuz seat (Vande Hei's) much earlier. This provided them with extra insurance to have a US astronaut on station at all times if Crew Dragon's first operational mission was delayed past the completion of the last Soyuz seat obtained through the old arrangement (purchased through Boeing as part of the Sea Launch deal). But in exchange, they gave up one crew spot on a future expedition.Basically, you can think of it as Vande Hei having been "assigned" the Crew-6 seat, and having just taken his flight really early. In the end, it looks like NASA got a great deal that was better than the sum of its parts. In exchange for giving up a Crew-6 expedition member for the usual 180-day duration, they got an extra expedition member to get work done earlier, whose mission ended up getting doubled to nearly a year due to the crew logistics surrounding the Russian movie filming (which NASA was happy to take since it meant getting more "mileage" out of their seat swap). And as for Crew-6, even though NASA will be down a US crew member, the UAE astronaut who's flying instead will be serving as a full-time station participant, meaning that a lot of the same work on-station will still get done (just not by NASA) that would've otherwise been done by the US crew member who got "bumped".I wouldn't be surprised if NASA and Axiom knew the whole time that the plan was for the UAE to buy this seat from Axiom, but they held off on announcing it until now to avoid jumping the gun before Axiom had solidified its reputation with a successful first mission.Oh, so right now Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg are assigned to Crew-6 but you're saying that one of them (presumably Hoburg) would lose their seat ?
Quote from: jmt27 on 04/30/2022 01:00 amOh, so right now Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg are assigned to Crew-6 but you're saying that one of them (presumably Hoburg) would lose their seat ?There is 4 seats. I don't think that anybody is losing a seat.
Oh, so right now Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg are assigned to Crew-6 but you're saying that one of them (presumably Hoburg) would lose their seat ?
PAM 3 is for a flight opportunity between mid-2023 and the end of 2023. Two companies submitted proposals: Axiom Space and Shuttle IO Technologies. Proposals from both companies were rejected and both with the comment: "Due to the overwhelming weaknesses in merit and supportability, I agreed with the PEP on the overall rating of “Poor” and find them unselectable."
I found strength in the description of the Axiom team mission and the role of PAMs to stimulate demand through entertainment activities, which demonstrates a thorough understanding of what is required to enable a broad LEO marketplace.
The proposal received three weaknesses related to insufficient data associated with plans for an a [redacted] and details associated with their proposed research and outreach activities.
[...] discussions were required to address a mission activity proposed by Axiom for which NASA policy decisions are currently in work and which could impact that activity. As a result of those discussions, Axiom submitted a proposal revision removing that activity.
I also took into consideration the discussions held between the contracting officer and Axiom (discussed above). I noted the proposal revision submitted by Axiom and agreed with the PEP the proposal no longer contained a provision which is still pending a NASA policy decision. Based on this revision, I found the Axiom proposal could be selected for contract negotiation.
Axiom received a weakness due to the broad range of research, and utilization and outreach objectives which are not achievable in the specified timeframe for their proposed mission and as outlined in their proposed integrated schedule.
In addition, Axiom received a strength based on their proposal containing a letter of commitment with a vehicle provider that has a demonstrated performance of flying astronauts to and from the ISS, and meets ISS interface requirements which increases the likelihood of their executing a safe and successful mission as proposed.
I assessed the Relevance of the Axiom proposal as stated in the NRA focus area 4A. I found strength in the description of the Axiom team mission and the role of PAMs to stimulate demand through entertainment activities, which demonstrates a thorough understanding of what is required to enable a broad LEO marketplace. This is consistent with NASA's commercialization strategy, as well as findings from internal studies outlining potential commercial markets for the ISS. This provides confidence that the proposal will contribute to NASA's mission to broaden and expand the low Earth orbit commercial market. However, the Strength was somewhat offset by the lack of information or description which did not allow for an assessment of the potential contribution to NASA's mission and the objective of successfully executing a private astronaut mission. Additionally, without any detail, I could not assess whether the proposed movie mission would reflect poorly on NASA, ISS partners, or related entities. Overall, I agreed with the PEP and found the Axiom proposal had “good” relevance.
[H]owever, I did not evaluate that alternative mission proposal due to the requirements laid out in Focus Area 4A.1 of the NRA stating "Proposers will be allowed to submit up to two (2) proposals for this solicitation, one (1) per flight opportunity." (e.g. one for PAM 2 and one for PAM 3). Given this limitation in the NRA, neither I nor the PEP were able to evaluate what would essentially be a second alternative Axiom proposal for PAM 3. Any implied information associated with the administration’s position or other data not received as part of this proposal could not be used in any assessment by the PEP or myself.
Follow on solicitations for the PAM 3 opportunity will be announced in the future.
Sep 14, 2022NASA Wants to Open Space to More People, Supports Private MissionsNASA is seeking proposals for two new private astronaut missions to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s efforts to open space to more people than ever before. With these opportunities, U.S. commercial companies will continue to play an essential role in establishing a sustained presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO) through the agency’s Commercial LEO Development Program.The targeted flight opportunities will occur between late 2023 and 2024. A private astronaut mission involves U.S. commercial spacecraft transporting private astronauts to the space station, where they conduct activities aboard the orbiting laboratory or a commercial structure attached to it. NASA is enabling up to two short-duration private astronaut missions per year.“We are truly in an exciting era, witnessing a significant increase in access to space and expansion of the commercial marketplace in low-Earth orbit,” said Angela Hart, manager of the Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “We recognize the importance of NASA’s continued support, and are dedicated to working with industry to identify areas where our expertise and unique capabilities support expansion, as with private astronaut missions. These provide a unique opportunity for industry to gain critical experience needed to select, train, and manage crews on future commercial low-Earth orbit destinations, as well as work with new science partners, future commercial partners and grow this non-traditional market.”The new targeted flight opportunities will be the third and fourth private astronaut missions to the International Space Station coordinated by NASA. The first mission was accomplished by Axiom Space in April 2022. Axiom Space was also selected by NASA for the second private astronaut mission, scheduled for the second quarter of 2023.Each of the new missions may be up to 14 days while docked to the space station. Specific dates are dependent on spacecraft traffic to the space station and in-orbit activity planning and constraints. Private astronaut missions must be brokered by a U.S. entity and use U.S. transportation spacecraft that meet NASA’s International Space Station visiting vehicle requirements, policies, and procedures. Refer to Focus Area 4A of NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNJ13ZBG001N for additional details.Enabling private astronaut missions to the International Space Station is part of the agency's goal to develop a robust low-Earth orbit economy where NASA is one of many customers, and the private sector leads the way. This strategy will provide services the government needs at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on its Artemis missions to the Moon ahead of human missions to Mars, while continuing to use low-Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for deep space exploration.Proposals are due at 5 p.m. EDT on Oct. 27, 2022. NASA will host a pre-proposal conference to address questions related to the solicitation at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. To confirm attendance, please email Kelly Rubio at [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. Sept. 15, 2022.
