"Orbital Reef" To Be A "Mixed Use Business Park" in Orbit

Blue Origin and Sierra Space have announced plans for their Orbital Reef, a commercially developed, produced, and operated space station to be placed in low earth orbit.

The new frontier of space business development will be backed by industry partners Boeing, Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, and Arizona State University. The school will lead a global consortium of universities on the Orbital Reef Advisory Council to manage academic needs, share research, evolve standards, guide ethics, and advise new researchers. The announcement from one of the biggest players in commercial space services may signal an increase in the momentum of private orbital development, with a possible “space station race” on the horizon.

The Orbital Reef will be built to accommodate new market developments, with space to rent for industrial, international, commercial, and research customers with competitive end-to-end services they need to establish their own address in space. Pricing will account for transportation, logistics, habitation, equipment, and operations including the onboard crew members. The station should begin operation sometime before 2030. 

Mirroring the terrestrial development of mixed use business parks in space, the station will be designed around full time living for those aboard, promising world-class services and amenities. Open architecture will allow any customers or government agencies to link with the facilities and upscale to meet increased demand. Modular berths, vehicle ports, utilities, and amenities are all expansive, and Blue Origin is confident that businesses around the world will find a plethora of uses for their room aboard. They expect researchers, manufacturers, and visitors to build around their standardized interfaces at all levels, building compatible lockers, racks, and modules. 

“The Orbital Reef represents the next evolution of the commercial space paradigm by creating the first ever crewed private sector platform in low Earth orbit. The Orbital Reef will carry forward the singular legacy of the ISS, supporting innovative microgravity research, development, and manufacturing activities which will advance fields as diverse as communications and biotechnology,” said Mike Gold, VP for Civil Space and External Affairs at Redwire. “The microgravity environment presents an entirely new arena for commercial and scientific development, making Orbital Reef the platform that will launch new technologies and capabilities dramatically improving life on Earth while enabling humanity’s journey to the stars.”

"Seasoned space agencies, high-tech consortia, sovereign nations without space programs, media and travel companies, funded entrepreneurs and sponsored inventors, and future-minded investors all have a place on Orbital Reef." said Blue Origin in their statement announcing the lab. Brent Sherwood, Senior VP of Advanced Development, says the company sees a tremendous boom for commercial space activity, and it begins now.  “For over sixty years, NASA and other space agencies have developed orbital space flight and space habitation, setting us up for commercial business to take off in this decade.”

“We will expand access, lower the cost, and provide all the services and amenities needed to normalize space flight. A vibrant business ecosystem will grow in low Earth orbit, generating new discoveries, new products, new entertainments, and global awareness.”

FMI: www.blueorigin.com