Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has big plans in space: a space station is to be built, even bigger than the ISS. The goal: “The normalization of space travel.”
New York – Jeff Bezos is planning his own space station in space. The Amazon founder announced on Monday through his company Blue Origin that “Orbital Reef” should be brought into space between the years 2025 and 2030. Together with partner companies, including Boeing, the concept is now to be further developed, as it says in a message.
Some details of this are already known: The space station, which is to form the counterpart to the International Space Station ISS, operated by NASA, can offer space for ten people. In addition, the space station should be a “commercial area” and be a destination for potential tourists. According to Blue Origin, the focus will be primarily on the space tourism sector: “We will expand access, reduce costs and provide all the services and amenities that are necessary for the normalization of space travel,” said Ben Sherwood, Managing Director of the company. It wasn’t until July that Jeff Bezos himself flew into space – and back again.
Space: Jeff Bezos is planning his own space station with Blue Origin
The spaceship “Starliner” is intended as a means of transport to “Orbital Reef”. It is currently being developed by Boeing. The Blue Origin space station is planned to fly at an altitude of 500 kilometers, a little higher than the ISS. The volume of “Orbital Reef” is to measure 830 cubic meters, slightly smaller than the International Space Station.
The ISS is so far the largest space station in space: it has been operated under the leadership of the US space agency since 2000. In cooperation with worldwide authorities, the ISS is inhabited by alternating astronauts.
In addition to the plans by Blue Origin and the ISS, there is another space station project: China also operates a platform in space that is still under construction. In June, three astronauts flew to the “Tiangong” station for the first time. (tu / dpa)
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