Axiom Space - Commercial Space Station

[Ayahuasca]

Axiom is headed up by the former program chief of the ISS and is intended to be a commercial replacement for the ISS. Another page in the chapter of the commercialisation of space. Great that there is more stuff going on in space, not sure it is entirely right for it to be profit motivated. Or is it?

[rxe]

Absolutely it should be profit motivated. If it isn’t profit motivated, then exploration will be limited to whatever taxpayers are willing to fork out. If we can get bigger and better space stations and launch systems funded by people who want to spend a week in space for a laugh. It will be to the benefit of everyone.

[Ayahuasca]

An argument against is that owning the only available space station would give Axiom a monopoly and a licence to demand whatever fees it wants for its use.

[eharding]

Ayahuasca said:

An argument against is that owning the only available space station would give Axiom a monopoly and a licence to demand whatever fees it wants for its use.

They're aiming to be the first commercial space station - they don't get a say in whether anyone else builds one. Besides, Axiom are tiddlers compared to mainstream space industry players, and will depend on those mainstream companies to get their modules into orbit - and if there was a clear commercial case for inhabited orbital facilities the likes of SpaceX could undercut and out-deploy Axiom without breaking a sweat.

[rxe]

Ayahuasca said:

An argument against is that owning the only available space station would give Axiom a monopoly and a licence to demand whatever fees it wants for its use.

That’s the whole point - they build it, they set the price. If they set the price too high, then someone else will build one. Thus we will have 2 space stations competing for business, which will drive prices down.

[Ayahuasca]

rxe said:

Ayahuasca said:

An argument against is that owning the only available space station would give Axiom a monopoly and a licence to demand whatever fees it wants for its use.

That’s the whole point - they build it, they set the price. If they set the price too high, then someone else will build one. Thus we will have 2 space stations competing for business, which will drive prices down.

You reckon there are enough rocket launches to support two competing space stations?

[rxe]

Ayahuasca said:

You reckon there are enough rocket launches to support two competing space stations?

There will be if the market demands it.

Without a level of commercial pressure, SpaceX wouldn’t have happened. If their plan works out, you’ll be able to haul several 10s of tonnes of gear into space for $2m. Will that price create a market? Who knows.