Pioneer Class Station Plans Unveiled by Orbital Assembly

Plans for the Pioneer class station, the first free-flying, habitable, privately-operated facility in orbit, have been unveiled by Orbital Assembly Corp.

"We've been able to develop a safe, secure, and reliable modular station that will generate revenue and profitability from both the tourist and commercial sectors sooner than our competitors who are adhering to NASA timetables."

Rhonda Stevenson, chief executive officer of Orbital Assembly.

The Pioneer class will be the world’s first and largest hybrid space stations for both work and stay, the company says. These customizable environments will feature five spacious modules built around OAC’s rotating Gravity Ring architecture. The artificial gravity features of the Pioneer class station will enhance the level of comfort in space.

A basic station model that accommodates 28 guests will provide a hybrid environment of microgravity (Zero-G) and variable levels of gravity up to .57-G. Custom configurations are possible to accommodate more people or meet specific commercial equipment specifications. Each Pioneer module will offer up to 14,000 cu. ft. of space.

Orbital Assembly has accelerated its timetable for this hybrid micro/artificial gravity space station, which will precede the Voyager Station, announced in 2021. The Voyager Station will accommodate up to 400 people.

"We've been able to develop a safe, secure, and reliable modular station that will generate revenue and profitability from both the tourist and commercial sectors sooner than our competitors who are adhering to NASA timetables," said Rhonda Stevenson, chief executive officer of Orbital Assembly.

"Multiple revenue streams from commercial, research and tourism markets will enable us to subsidize the travel market for a one to two-week stay. While launch costs continue to be a barrier, we expect tourists will be motivated to plan shorter, or more frequent, stays as space travel becomes less expensive."

OAC is partnering with former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison’s organization “100-year Starship” and UC-Irvine to further the study of artificial gravity on human physiology. Researchers are finding that the Zero-G conditions experienced during long-term stays in space may cause serious medical conditions.

"For the average person, being in space will be a sci-fi dream experience,” said Tim Alatorre, Chief Operating Officer for Orbital Assembly Corp. “Our vision is to make space a destination people will yearn to visit, with familiar elements provided by the presence of gravity.” Pioneer’s gravity experience will enable visitors to move around in weightless environments while eating or drinking out of a cup normally and sleeping without having to be attached to a bed. This is not possible in current space stations.

"We envision our Pioneer and Voyager space stations as the ultimate ecotourism destinations,” Alatorre said. “Once people get to space, it will change their perspective about Earth. Space travel is still in its infancy, and we’re excited to do our part to push it forward to help improve life on earth."

(Source: Orbital Assembly Corp. news release. Courtesy image)