'Gambit' Payload Installed on ISS Bishop Airlock
'Gambit' Payload Installed on ISS Bishop Airlock
Adds Advanced Testing Capabilities to Its External Payload Sites
A new, self-built payload called Gambit has been installed on the Bishop airlock at the International Space Station. Developed by Voyager Space, Gambit introduces advanced testing capabilities to its external payload sites, and sets the stage for enhanced utilization of the ISS.
"With its suite of sensors, robust data collection capabilities and innovative robotic development, Gambit exemplifies the potential of the Bishop Airlock's external payload sites."
Matt Kuta, Voyager Space
The Bishop Airlock, launched in December 2020, is the first permanent, commercial addition to the ISS, and features six external payload sites. One of Gambit's primary goals is to serve as a testing platform to demonstrate robotic transfer and installation processes at these external sites. Equipped with a suite of sensors, Gambit will also provide critical and detailed data on external payload operations. Its sensors will verify the functionality of the Bishop Airlock's external sites and gather environmental data critical to future payloads. This data will be invaluable in ensuring the success of upcoming scientific missions and commercial endeavors, both poised to leverage these sites.
"Gambit's successful installation is not only cause for celebration within the Voyager Space team, but also across the broader space industry," said Matt Kuta, President, Voyager Space. "With its suite of sensors, robust data collection capabilities and innovative robotic development, Gambit exemplifies the potential of the Bishop Airlock's external payload sites and enhances the ability of the ISS and future space stations, like Starlab, to conduct new, groundbreaking research and host exciting commercial ventures."
Transported to the ISS within the pressurized stowage of NG-19 in 2023, Gambit was transferred from inside the station to the Bishop Airlock external site using the Nanoracks Payload Transfer Flight Support Equipment (FSE). Installation of Gambit was completed on August 28, 2023. Both the Bishop Airlock and Gambit were designed and built by Nanoracks, which was acquired by Voyager in 2020 and is now part of Voyager's Exploration Segment.
"Thanks to the advanced robotics employed in the installation process, Gambit will be relocated to different external sites on a regular basis," continued Kuta. "This strategic maneuvering will allow Gambit to capture a diverse range of data and images, enriching our understanding of the space environment today and into the future."
Voyager and Nanoracks have a legacy of mission management on the ISS; this work continues those ISS accomplishments and prepares for our future beyond the ISS. The Bishop Airlock and Gambit will provide invaluable insights as Voyager, in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, develops, builds, and operates Starlab, a commercial space station planned to succeed the ISS. A recently announced transatlantic joint venture between the two companies aims to bring together world-class leaders in the space domain, while further uniting American and European interests in space exploration.