Orbital Base Station

he Orbital Base Station is a design for an orbital assembly complex in low Earth orbit, functioning as an integral part of a space transportation system and enabling the construction and maintenance of vehicles for the exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Orbital Base Station

Construction of the OBS would be highly modular, with the outer shell made from 10m2 panels, covered with a skin of aluminised Mylar. The structure would also provide tank farms for liquid oxygen and hydrogen propellants, accommodation for construction crews, and fuel cells to provide the base load power. Large doors at either end provide access for vehicles, while payload loading doors along the side enable cargo from docked SKYLON vehicles to be transferred using manipulator arms.

OBS In Orbit 1 OBS In Orbit 2

An enclosed structure has several benefits; it provides protection from micrometeoroids and space debris, whilst also capturing any loose items within and therefore not adding to the problem.

It also enables the internal volume to be lit with floodlights, as the OBS will orbit the Earth approximately every 90 minutes, half of the time being in darkness. Suitably arranged internal lighting would alleviate this problem. Vehicles under construction within the OBS would be tethered, while manipulator arms, attached to longitudinal rails, would be used to transfer crews and material as needed.

For more on OBS, visit Reaction Engines SKYLON Pages.