r/spaceflight • u/spacedotc0m • 18d ago

Axiom's private space station is coming sooner than we thought

https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/axioms-private-space-station-is-coming-sooner-than-we-thought
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u/Isnotanumber 18d ago

Semi-random thought. Is it really necessary to send part of this to ISS first? And if so, can its orbit be modified significantly once it becomes a free flying vehicle. As I recall, the orbit for ISS was dictated to give Russians access, and while doable from KSC it kinda sucks. Limits the windows to launch, made the amount payload deliverable a little more limited. At least for Shuttle. Why not just optimize it for launches from the US? Is there a hope of keeping Russia as a partner?

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u/Pootis_1 17d ago

iirc the orbital inclination is also liked for earth observation stuff

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u/snoo-boop 17d ago

Sure, it's the 2nd most popular rideshare orbit after SSO.

Which has little to do with a crewed space station.

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u/Pootis_1 17d ago

Earth observation has never been the sole reason for a station being launched but almost every space station has done significant earth observation stuff

Skylab was in a 50 degree inclination orbit specifically to do earth observation

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u/snoo-boop 17d ago

Earth observation by uncrewed satellites has made many advances since Skylab.

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u/Pootis_1 17d ago

The point is stations do earth observation work still

Like NASA says as much it's not that hard to find this stuff out

There are multiple earth observation instruments on the ISS

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u/snoo-boop 17d ago

The point is that stations do very little earth observation work.

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u/Pootis_1 17d ago

enough that is still influences the orbital inclination they're launched into