Nano In Space

American-based private space company, NanoRacks, believe that the commercialisation of space will open a new range of solutions to Earth’s problems. Their latest plan, if all goes well, will run their own orbital research stations.

Organised for next year, in partnership with space-tech company Maxar, NanoRacks are going to launch eight cubesats into the stars on its first Outpost project. On the back of NASA funding, NanoRacks will send up their high-tech robots to cut material similar to rocket upper stages. This test will demonstrate the ability to convert spent rocket upper stages into fuel tanks, air locks, storage space and accommodation for future human occupants to create in-space pharmaceuticals and fibre-optics to harbour life. NanoRacks CEO Jaffrey Manber hopes that this will “re-purpose upper stages of launch vehicles and convert them into Outposts. We envision populating the solar system with cost-efficient platforms, that can serve as hotels, research parks, fuel depots, storage centers and more.”

Additionally, this plan will save on the man-power on Earth and hopefully help clean up on any unwanted space junk. The brains behind the operation believe that they will be able to cut material that is replica to a used second-stage rocket thinly so as not to cause any excess post-orbit.