Blue Origin, "Plans to Build Own Space Station by 2030"

Post-ISS Closure NASA and Alternative Station Construction
Blue Origin and 12 Other Companies Also Propose Construction Plans

[Image source=Blue Origin homepage]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Blue Origin, a space company led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, announced plans to build its own space station by 2030. This is interpreted as a plan to replace or supplement the International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled to cease operations in 2025 due to aging. In addition to Blue Origin, about 12 U.S. aerospace and aviation companies are reported to have proposed ISS replacement space station plans to NASA, indicating fierce competition for contracts in the future.

According to foreign media such as CNBC on the 25th (local time), Blue Origin stated in a press release that "we plan to establish a joint venture with the space company Sierra Space to build a small space station capable of accommodating up to 10 people by 2030." According to Blue Origin, the space station will be named 'Orbital Reef' and will be used as a business complex for research and production in microgravity conditions in orbit approximately 500 km above the Earth.

The plan to build this space station is part of the effort to establish a replacement space station for the ISS, which will cease operations due to exceeding its operational lifespan in 2025. Brent Sherwood, Vice President of Blue Origin's Advanced Development Program (ADP), emphasized at a press conference, "Over the past 60 years, space agencies including NASA have developed orbital spaceflight and space habitation technologies, laying the foundation for private companies to enter. We will provide all the services and amenities necessary to expand access to spaceflight, reduce costs, and make it routine."

According to CNBC, not only Blue Origin but also 12 companies in the U.S. have already proposed plans to NASA for building replacement space stations. Among them, a representative company is Axiom Space, which has signed a contract worth $140 million (approximately 163.8 billion KRW) with NASA and is developing private modules. Additionally, space service company Nanoracks, along with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, announced plans to operate a private space station called 'Starlab' by 2027.