What does it take to build the next generation space station that will replace the International Space Station?
In this exclusive interview from Axiom Space headquarters in Houston, Aaron Tullos, Vice President of Station Engineering, gives Australia in Space TV an inside look at the engineering behind the Axiom Station, a commercial space station designed to operate in low Earth orbit.
Aaron explains how Axiom Space is building on decades of lessons learned from the International Space Station, while introducing new technologies and design approaches to support future space research, manufacturing, and human exploration.
Standing in front of a full-scale wooden mock-up of the Habitation Module (Hab1), Aaron walks us through how engineers test designs, reduce costs, optimise mass and power, and prepare the station modules for assembly and launch.
We also discuss:
- The first Axiom Station module launching in 2028
- How the Axiom Station will connect to the International Space Station before it retires in 2030
- Designing a better living environment for astronauts
- Supporting the next generation of microgravity research and manufacturing
- The engineering challenges of building a commercial space station
Aaron also shares how Axiom Space works closely with former NASA astronauts like Peggy Whitson, Koichi Wakata, Mike López-Alegría and Dan Burbank to ensure the Axiom Station is designed with astronauts and researchers in mind.
As the ISS approaches retirement, the Axiom Station represents the next major step in the commercialisation of low Earth orbit.
Filmed at Axiom Space, Houston, Texas
