Will Orbital Reef Be The Next Space Station?

The International Space Station cannot last for ever

Blue Origin, the space-flight firm owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is developing Orbital Reef in partnership with other space firms including Sierra Space and Boeing, with the intention of creating a multipurpose destination in orbit. Different companies and governments could pay to send their own astronauts and experiments there, and space tourists could visit.

The station is proposed to be slightly smaller than the International Space Station (ISS), with capacity for 10 astronauts, whereas the ISS has accommodated as many as 13 at a time.

“We will expand access, lower the cost, and provide all the services and amenities needed to normalize space flight,” said Blue Origin’s Brent Sherwood in a statement.

“A vibrant business ecosystem will grow in low Earth orbit, generating new discoveries, new products, new entertainments, and global awareness.”

It is acknowledged that the ISS cannot last for ever, and its future beyond 2028 could be in doubt, so is a private station such as Orbital Reef the answer?

There are other candidates seeking to provide a replacement for the ISS, including Nanoracks, Lockheed Martin and Axiom, but it is unclear if any of…