Orbital Reef Will Be First Commercially Owned And Operated Space Station

Jeff Bezos is set to begin building a replacement for the International Space Station (ISS) to the tune of $100 billion.

The ISS was launched in November 1998 and has been home to several hundred astronauts and cosmonauts. However, the lifetime of its primary structure such as the modules, truss members, and radiators is limited, having been affected by continual thermal cycling and dynamic loading from dockings and undockings.

Orbital Reef will be the first commercially owned and operated space station and will be a mixed use station, being designed and built to accommodate research, commerce, and yes – tourism.

The station is a joint venture between Blue Origin and Sierra Space and has been in the planning stage for several years. In March 2024, NASA announced Orbital Reef had achieved four important testing milestones and proving it can support human life in space. Recently, NASA announced a $130 million award for the development of Orbital Reef.

Orbital Reef is intended as a place for NASA to send its astronauts but as a commercially owned station it could also be opened to space tourism or other commercial endeavors.

Blue Origin says, “Think spacious modules with large windows to view Earth, our blue origin, while experiencing the thrill of weightlessness in complete comfort.

Distinct quarters will be designed for personal and business use, and large hatches create a safe and inspiring environment. We aim to provide a truly extraordinary experience, whether you are in orbit for research, logistics, tourism, or other applications.”

FMI:  www.blueorigin.com/