NanoRacks raises funding for commercial airlock moduleby Jeff Foust — October 3, 2017SYDNEY — NanoRacks announced Oct. 3 that it had raised an undisclosed amount to support development of a commercial airlock module for the International Space Station.
<snip>Node 3 Port has clearance issues with the rotating Port TRRJ, hence robotics access may be an issue.
Manber: NanoRacks’ airlock module manifested for launch to the ISS in 2019. Will allow us to do more satellite deployments from the station than possible today with the Japanese module airlock. #SpaceComExpo
Virtually all new systems suffer schedule slip.
After reading plans of Bartolomeo platform allowing larger external payloads if they could fit through the Bishop A/L, I've been trying to find info on how such payloads would be transferred. How does the hand-off work? I thought Bishop was depressurized and unberthed as a unit and held by the SSRMS. So, I get how they are deploying the "haybale" deployers (NRSS or Lightband) but how do they move external payloads out with the arm already engaged in holding the airlock?
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.
http://nanoracks.com/airlock-bishop-completes-critical-design-review/QuoteThe 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.
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.
Last week, our team had a great visit to see our friends at @Thales_Alenia_S. #Bishop Airlock manufacturing is well underway. The forging (shown here) is currently 7,700 lbs. The final flight unit post-machining will be only 718 lbs - about 10% of the starting weight! #ISS
Our team worked hard over through New Year's as the #Bishop Airlock (quite literally) continues to take shape in Italy. Thanks to our friends at @Thales_Alenia_S for their dedicated work on this historic first commercial module addition to the @Space_Station. #ISS
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.
#Houston, we have an...AIRLOCK! The #Bishop Airlock has arrived safely to our new facilities in Houston, and we'll soon be up and running in our new clean room. #MiniAirlock got the first look of course! Thanks again to @Thales_Alenia_S for sending over Bishop safe & sound! #ISS