29.09.2024

Voyager Space (Voyager) has announced the successful completion of commercial payload operations using the Bishop Airlock on the International Space Station (ISS). This operation, done in partnership with Airbus, represents a critical step in preparing for joint operations on the upcoming Starlab commercial space station.

During this mission, Voyager transferred two ArgUS multi-payload carriers, along with customer payloads, to Airbus's Bartolomeo platform. The transfer utilized the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator ("Dextre"), both built by MDA Space. The ArgUS platform, designed by Airbus US Space and Defense in Houston, can host up to 10 smaller payloads on a single Bartolomeo payload slot.

"We are proud to achieve another successful Bishop Airlock cycle, this time in partnership with Airbus," said Matt Kuta, President of Voyager Space. "This mission is a testament to the advanced capabilities of Bishop, our teams' dedication to expanding commercial research and innovation on the Space Station, and our commitment to global collaboration in the rising commercial space station era. Together, our companies look forward to leveraging our combined decades of commercial space services and manufacturing heritage to deliver an unmatched experience for our customers on Starlab."

The Bishop Airlock, the first permanent commercial addition to the ISS, offers the largest available volume for deploying experiments and payloads. It is ideal for conducting microgravity research, hosting technology demonstrations, and deploying small satellites. Bishop's flexible capabilities also include hosting payloads either in the space environment or within the Station.

Airbus, which owns and operates the Bartolomeo platform attached to the ISS's Columbus Module, is also a key player in Starlab Space LLC, a joint venture led by Voyager to design, build, and operate the Starlab space station.

"This successful deployment underscores the strength of the Airbus / Voyager Space partnership and illustrates our shared commitment to advancing space exploration and commercial opportunities in low-Earth orbit," said Kris Kuehnel, Managing Director of Space Exploration Operations at Airbus U.S. Space and Defense. "The successful integration and operation of these platforms on the International Space Station sets a solid foundation for future missions, including our work on Starlab."

This mission marked the first time the Bishop Airlock was mounted on the Payload Orbital Replacement Unit Accommodation (POA) on the ISS truss, using its second robotic grapple fixture.

Quelle: SD