I still remember the original Space lab when I was kid before it was allowed to de-orbit. It kind of felt like the ISS would be up there forever. Obviously not the case. Appreciate the education Laura. Brilliant as always!
You’re thinking of Skylab. I was one of the flight controllers in Mission Control in Houston who was controlling it and brought it in that day (and the 7 months before that leading up to it, of course). - Dave Huntsman
I totally agree, Vast should be one of the first, based on simplicity. But not sure it's in the same class as the others, since it doesn't have its own life support---it relies on Dragon for that. This severely limits the amount of time that it will be occupied.
I have to agree, that vehicle has potential but I'm not sure how flexibility once the Dragon leaves and waits for another visit. There hasn't been much talk about what vehicle going be used in the long term as they wait for the Starship design mature. The added modules are suppose to be reportedly be Starship "Class" size modules to be added.
Thanks for briefing us on this advisory committee Laura. I'm hopeful that Vast's Haven 1 at the very least could temporarily fill a possible gap between ISS operations and commercial space stations and hopefully others will be ready by 2030 too.
@@tomsheridan989 Thanks so much! I really appreciate that. I was unwell at the end of my pregnancy, and then unwell following the birth, and then we just moved houses on Monday. Things may finally be calming down for me to start up videos again! But my lights and microphone are packed away at the moment.
Is it possible to have occasional news reports on the progress of the other proposed space stations that will replace the I.S.S.? (Axiom Station, Orbital Reef, etc.)
A major, unstated issue: the Demand side for LEO. NASA, in setting up the CLD/Commercial LEO Destinations Program- and I include Axiom in that- is essentially taking a ‘build it and they will come’ attitude. But we’ve already lost one CLD provider (Northrop Grumman). And what is really lacking inside NASA is an express Demand Generation program of some sort- by whatever name- to explicitly help jump-start this entire new, eventually self-sustaining- and preferably US-led- LEO econosphere, on which all other “onward and outward!- “ type of space activities can extend outward from. Yet NASA is not doing that, nor even recognizing that the problem is one they should be involved in; nor, unfortunately, is anyone on any of the NAC Committees ever asking the question. It’s a problem not being addressed. A big one. - Dave Huntsman
NASA is stuck here. It doesn't have the extra funds. It can be an anchor tenant and send astronauts to CLDs, but it doesn't have the resources to do much more than that.
@@lauraforczyk It’s not even telling Congress of the issue, or even asking for the funds and getting turned down, Laura. Of my 46 yrs at NASA, 9 yrs as an SES, 8 yrs total at HQ. The greatest thing NASA has always lacked in its people there, is not money; courage.
imho the only viable contenders are Vast, with its tiny starter station, and SpaceX outfitting a Starship. Axiom is hemorrhaging cash and downsizing its plans. All the others suffer from insufficient finances, old-space team members (pricey and slow), international partners (pricey and slowwwwww), or a combination of all three of those constraints.
If the Starship ready in time one could be launched as a permanent station with an inflatable Life module on board. The engines could be designed to be removed as a unit & placed in high orbit for use later.
Regarding _Dream Chaser:_ *I ❤️ LIFTING BODIES* I think Sierra already has a name picked out, but I would love it if they nicknamed their first manned _Dream Chaser_ *_"Farscape One."_* REALLY.
A great question that no one knows the answer to. No one has built, launched, and operated a commercial space station before to know how profitable it would be, or not.
I still remember the original Space lab when I was kid before it was allowed to de-orbit. It kind of felt like the ISS would be up there forever. Obviously not the case. Appreciate the education Laura. Brilliant as always!
You’re thinking of Skylab. I was one of the flight controllers in Mission Control in Houston who was controlling it and brought it in that day (and the 7 months before that leading up to it, of course). - Dave Huntsman
Thanks! Skylab was before my time, but it seemed like a great facility.
This channel is so underrated!!
Thank you, that's kind of you!
I totally agree, Vast should be one of the first, based on simplicity. But not sure it's in the same class as the others, since it doesn't have its own life support---it relies on Dragon for that. This severely limits the amount of time that it will be occupied.
I have to agree, that vehicle has potential but I'm not sure how flexibility once the Dragon leaves and waits for another visit. There hasn't been much talk about what vehicle going be used in the long term as they wait for the Starship design mature. The added modules are suppose to be reportedly be Starship "Class" size modules to be added.
A good point. Space stations don't need to be continually habitable the way ISS is, but life support definitely limits its capabilities!
Thanks for briefing us on this advisory committee Laura.
I'm hopeful that Vast's Haven 1 at the very least could temporarily fill a possible gap between ISS operations and commercial space stations and hopefully others will be ready by 2030 too.
Thanks, we can hope! With the news of Axiom's struggles, other space station operators may be under similar financial strains.
I haven't seen any videos from you lately. I think you've had one of the best space channels. Hope your ok!
@@tomsheridan989 Thanks so much! I really appreciate that. I was unwell at the end of my pregnancy, and then unwell following the birth, and then we just moved houses on Monday. Things may finally be calming down for me to start up videos again! But my lights and microphone are packed away at the moment.
Did you see Eric Berger's X post today outlining Axiom's serious financial problems? It is disheartening.
I only just did! I really hope they can pull through.
Is it possible to have occasional news reports on the progress of the other proposed space stations that will replace the I.S.S.? (Axiom Station, Orbital Reef, etc.)
Lets hope Axiom gets something done before ISS doomsday.
I do hope NASA gets the funding, I hate say I'm not so sure they'll get funding they need given how divisive US Congress has been.
I'd be very surprised if NASA got much of a budget increase at all, for anything aside from SLS and Orion, anytime soon.
A major, unstated issue: the Demand side for LEO. NASA, in setting up the CLD/Commercial LEO Destinations Program- and I include Axiom in that- is essentially taking a ‘build it and they will come’ attitude. But we’ve already lost one CLD provider (Northrop Grumman). And what is really lacking inside NASA is an express Demand Generation program of some sort- by whatever name- to explicitly help jump-start this entire new, eventually self-sustaining- and preferably US-led- LEO econosphere, on which all other “onward and outward!- “ type of space activities can extend outward from. Yet NASA is not doing that, nor even recognizing that the problem is one they should be involved in; nor, unfortunately, is anyone on any of the NAC Committees ever asking the question. It’s a problem not being addressed. A big one. - Dave Huntsman
NASA is stuck here. It doesn't have the extra funds. It can be an anchor tenant and send astronauts to CLDs, but it doesn't have the resources to do much more than that.
@@lauraforczyk It’s not even telling Congress of the issue, or even asking for the funds and getting turned down, Laura. Of my 46 yrs at NASA, 9 yrs as an SES, 8 yrs total at HQ. The greatest thing NASA has always lacked in its people there, is not money; courage.
imho the only viable contenders are Vast, with its tiny starter station, and SpaceX outfitting a Starship. Axiom is hemorrhaging cash and downsizing its plans. All the others suffer from insufficient finances, old-space team members (pricey and slow), international partners (pricey and slowwwwww), or a combination of all three of those constraints.
Vast has an advantage being so small and simple. Starlab is also small, but you make a good point that international partners slow the effort down.
If the Starship ready in time one could be launched as a permanent station with an inflatable Life module on board. The engines could be designed to be removed as a unit & placed in high orbit for use later.
Regarding _Dream Chaser:_
*I ❤️ LIFTING BODIES*
I think Sierra already has a name picked out, but I would love it if they nicknamed their first manned _Dream Chaser_ *_"Farscape One."_* REALLY.
Regarding next year's contracts, three words:
(1) PLEASE
(2) EXCLUDE
(3) BOEING
🙄🙄🙄
The FAA has just anouanced fined that they have fined SpaceX over $600,000
Cancel de-orbit contract or make it 5 billion dls!
They just need to defund SLS, but that probably won't happen because of politics.
Will commercial stations be financially viable or will they be welfare clients of NASA?
A great question that no one knows the answer to. No one has built, launched, and operated a commercial space station before to know how profitable it would be, or not.
It's not going to happen unless the FAA gets out of the way!