New Multipurpose Spacecraft in Development

SPACEHAB says it's started development of a fully commercial roundtrip delivery service to low earth orbit and beyond. This initiative is a natural next step for SPACEHAB which has been a pioneer in space commerce for more than twenty years.

As an example, NASA is scheduled to launch the first commercially developed and deployable component of the International Space Station onboard Space Shuttle Discovery - SPACEHAB's Integrated Cargo Carrier. Known on the STS-114 mission as the External Stowage Platform 2, this pallet will be attached to the orbiting station where it will serve as a permanent spares warehouse. This accomplishment set the stage for SPACEHAB to unveil the company's new capability for conducting business in space -- a modular multipurpose spacecraft system dubbed Apex.

Currently, the only method for transporting cargo and experiments to and from space are on government-owned spacecraft such as the space shuttle. The Apex system offers a means for accessing the unique environment of space through a private enterprise, further opening the door to a broader market.

"Not only is Apex a viable option for commercially re-supplying the International Space Station," said SPACEHAB Chief Operating Officer Michael E. Bain. "It is also a flexible system that can act as an in-space resource module providing power, data, and thermal support or serve as an unmanned orbiting laboratory that brings experiment results safely back to earth." With Apex, customer requirements will drive the development of system capabilities, ensuring that there is a specific demand for a particular service before the appropriate vehicle configuration is built.

Apex's patent pending design uses a uniquely modular, reconfigurable, largely reusable architecture. This architecture takes advantage of mature technologies and proven systems, making its service affordable for the user. Utilizing the company's extensive experience in transporting goods to space, Apex will, in large part, serve a customer base that SPACEHAB is very familiar with, including NASA, the Department of Defense, and the research community. Bain added, "Simply stated, the primary customer benefits of the Apex system are greater accessibility to space and increased capability in orbit, all at a reduced price."

FMI: www.spacehab.com