Given the extremely limited availability of space-rated urine processors (only NASA and the Russian Space Agency have operated them to date), the Starlab team has initiated maturation and ground testing of a full-scale alternative urine processor to drive down cost and technical implementation risk and to leverage increased options in the marketplace for this essential technology. The AUP test article will be supplied by Paragon Space Development Corporation and the test campaign will be performed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama under realistic operating conditions.
In addition to the water purification system, Voyager Space is developing an optical communications space terminal to be mounted on the Bishop Airlock, the first commercial module attached to the International Space Station (ISS). This technology will serve to establish a high-bandwidth optical communications link between a ground terminal and the flight terminal on the ISS in the absence of accurate attitude knowledge and quantify optical link performance over a range of atmospheric conditions.
This type of high-bandwidth optical communications, supported by Edge computing and AI, is a critical technology needed to support multiple Starlab activities. Data is one of the most valuable research products of Starlab itself, and advanced research is data intensive, requiring demanding communications, high resolution video downlink, and more. Additionally, it’s important that researchers can access and control their payloads from the ground, another driver for high-bandwidth optical communications.
We are planning, with NASA, to conduct testing from the ISS to ground to demonstrate a capability needed for Starlab’s primary market. Our aim is to drive down Starlab’s communications cost, performance, and reliability risks. The anticipated result will also allow for higher data rates and more energy efficient communications compared to that of the traditional radio frequency communication systems.
We are making great strides with our progress on Starlab and are excited about the possibilities these two demonstrations will unfold. Stay tuned for additional updates on Starlab as we head into the New Year!
About Starlab Space
Starlab Space is a planned transatlantic joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus that is designing, building, and will operate the Starlab commercial space station. Starlab will serve a global customer base of space agencies, researchers, and companies, ensuring a continued human presence in low-Earth orbit and a seamless transition of microgravity science and research from the International Space Station into the new commercial space station era.
For more information on Starlab, follow us on social media at @Starlab_Space (X, Instagram) and @Starlab (Linkedin).