{"id":17987,"date":"2019-07-17T18:34:14","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T10:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/new-space-station-ventures-could-boost-manufacturing-medicine-and-marketing\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:34:14","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T10:34:14","slug":"new-space-station-ventures-could-boost-manufacturing-medicine-and-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/new-space-station-ventures-could-boost-manufacturing-medicine-and-marketing\/","title":{"rendered":"New space station ventures could boost manufacturing, medicine \u2014 and marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Kate
NASA astronaut Kate Rubins conducts tests and replaces parts inside the International Space Station\u2019s Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM, in 2016. The experimental module could be considered the space station\u2019s first commercial facility. (NASA Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

RENTON, Wash. \u2014 NASA\u2019s plan to expand commercial ventures on the International Space Station is attracting lots of interest \u2014 and not just from would-be space tourists, according to the agency official who\u2019s keeping track of the proposals.<\/p>\n

One of the ideas that\u2019s most intriguing to Doug Comstock, a NASA deputy chief financial officer who serves as the liaison for commercial activities in low Earth orbit, has to do with growing artificial retinas in zero gravity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis process just doesn\u2019t work in a gravity field,\u201d Comstock told GeekWire here today at the Space Frontier Foundation\u2019s annual NewSpace conference.<\/p>\n

Connecticut-based LambdaVision recently tested the protein-based technique on the space station, with an eye toward proceeding with clinical trials of the retinal implants. The startup expects the process to produce higher-quality retinal implants for patients suffering from age-based macular degeneration.<\/p>\n

\"Doug
Doug Comstock is NASA;s deputy chief financial officer for integration and serves as the commercial low-Earth-orbit liaison for the agency\u2019s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. (GeekWire Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other ventures focus on making high-quality optical fiber: At least two California companies, Made In Space and FOMS, are experimenting with the production of fluoride-based ZBLAN fiber on the space station. ZBLAN can transmit clearer signals than run-of-the-mill silica-based fiber, but it has to be manufactured under zero-G conditions to head off imperfections.<\/p>\n

Comstock said those are just two examples showing how activities on the space station are \u201cmoving beyond research and development to manufacturing.\u201d They\u2019re the kinds of activities that NASA aims to support through a commercialization initiative unveiled last month.<\/p>\n

Since that unveiling, NASA has been fleshing out the details for public-private partnerships designed to facilitate the transition from direct government funding of space station operations. By the mid-2020s, NASA wants to be just one of the customers buying access to a commercially managed U.S. segment of the International Space Station, as well as other destinations in low Earth orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re spending about $3.5 billion a year for station and the transportation to get there. We anticipate that by transitioning to destinations, it\u2019s going to cost us less to conduct the science and R&D and technology demonstrations that we need in the future,\u201d Comstock said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know how much less that\u2019s going to be, but we anticipate that it\u2019ll be less than the $3.5 billion that we\u2019re spending now,\u201d he said. \u201cIf it\u2019s a billion dollars less, $2 billion less, then in the time frame we\u2019re talking about, that\u2019s more funds that NASA can apply toward the Mars push. So that\u2019s going to be important going forward for deep-space exploration aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n

NASA already has laid out a price schedule for reimbursable expenses, including per-kilogram cargo rates that range from $3,000 to $18,000 depending on how the cargo has to be handled. Those rates will be adjusted every six months to respond to demand, Comstock said.<\/p>\n

There\u2019ll also be an opportunity to add a dedicated commercial module onto one of the space station\u2019s ports, with proposals due next month.<\/p>\n

Comstock said NASA will spend about $200 million to spruce up the space station for expanded commercial activities. Adjustments will have to be made to space station utilities, including power, communications and thermal control.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not quite as simple as just docking a new module,\u201d Comstock explained. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to do a bit of work to prepare for it and accommodate it.\u201d<\/p>\n