Airbus Develops Space Station with Artificial Gravity
Space enthusiasts may have to bid farewell to the International Space Station (ISS) after 2030, but that doesn’t mean the end of space stations. China and India are planning to take the lead in this area, while NASA has contracted three companies to design commercial space stations. Europe’s Airbus has also stepped up with its Multi-Purpose Orbital Module (MPOP), a modular space compartment that is 8 meters long and consists of three levels. The module has a centrifuge and enough space to house a crew of four, with the potential to accommodate temporarily up to eight astronauts. The three decks include a Settlement Deck, Science Deck, and a Centrifuge for simulating gravity. The interior’s segmentation is defined as an “internal safe harbor concept” that ensures crew safety in the event of a hazard. LOOP is based on previous programs of manned spaceflight and opens up future possibilities for space stations and long-duration Mars missions.
