A prototype of Max Space’s Thunderbird could be launched as early as 2027. The space station proposed by the North American startup, with a distinctive expandable structure, could be placed into orbit with a single launch.
The North American startup announced plans to launch, by 2027, a prototype of its commercial space station, with the aim of testing a technology for expandable habitat which aims to reduce the number of trips needed to build an orbital laboratory.
The is a one-man space station single module, designed to expand, already in orbit, to a final volume that can reach 350 cubic meters.
Instead of requiring multiple missions to assemble a set of modules, the entire Thunderbird station could be packed inside a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and launched in a single mission.
According to , Max Space revealed this week that a small prototype of the station, named Mission Evolution, should be launched aboard a SpaceX “ride-share” mission in early 2027.
The mission will testing the orbital debris protection systemas well as the environmental control and life support system.
Max Space was founded in 2023 with the purpose of making its technology available expandable modules to help other companies build their own space stations.
Although, at an early stage, the startup did not intend to develop a own stationthe review of NASA’s approach to its Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program led to a change of direction.
The North American space agency look for alternatives commercials to the International Space Station, whose .
Instead of fixed price contracts with companiesNASA is now making available smaller “Space Act Agreements”more accessible and with multiple sources of financing, aimed at the development and initial demonstration of commercial space stations.
“It was quite clear that it was an opportunity for us to present a proposal and demonstrate how these modules can actually be used for human habitation,” the executive director of Max Space, Saleem Miyan.
A main characteristic that distinguishes the station from other commercial habitats is its expandable structure, different from inflatable modules.
O Thunderbird usa flexible elements inside and an adjustable configurationwhich allows the crew to convert living areas for other uses — for example, to carry out experiments in low Earth orbit. The system may be launched on a medium capacity vehiclelike or Falcon 9.
Thunderbird is designed to permanently host four astronautswith a “morphic” interior structure which can be reconfigured by the crew to support different activities on board.
The commercial station could be used for investigation and also for in-orbit manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and other materials.
Max Space plans to launch the station into orbit in 2029. The company also intends to adapt or Thunderbird for serving from habitat to astronauts on missions around the Moon and Mars.
